moiré

[ mwah-rey, mawr-ey, mohr-ey; French mwa-rey ]

/ mwɑˈreɪ, ˈmɔr eɪ, ˈmoʊr eɪ; French mwaˈreɪ /

adjective

(of silks and other fabrics) presenting a watery or wavelike appearance.

noun

a design pressed on silk, rayon, etc., by engraved rollers.

any silk, rayon, etc., fabric with a watery or wavelike appearance.

Printing. an interference pattern of dots appearing in the print of process color.

Nearby words

moiety, moil, moira, moirai, moire, moiré, moiré effect, moiseivich, moiseyev, moism, moissan

Origin of moiré

From French, dating back to 1810–20; see origin at moire, -ee

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for moiré (1 of 2)

moiré

/ (ˈmwɑːreɪ) /

adjective

having a watered or wavelike pattern

noun

such a pattern, impressed on fabrics by means of engraved rollers

any fabric having such a pattern; moire

Also: moiré pattern a pattern seen when two geometrical patterns, such as grids, are visually superimposed

Word Origin for moiré

C17: from French, from moire mohair

British Dictionary definitions for moiré (2 of 2)

moire

/ (mwɑː) /

noun

a fabric, usually silk, having a watered effect

Word Origin for moire

C17: from French, earlier mouaire, from mohair

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012