moire

¹

[mwahr, mawr, mohr]

noun

1. any moiré fabric.

moiré

²

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

adjective

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

noun

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

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

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

moiré

¹

/ ˈmwɑːreɪ /

adjective

1. having a watered or wavelike pattern

noun

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

2. any fabric having such a pattern; moire

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

moire

²

/ mwɑː /

noun

1. a fabric, usually silk, having a watered effect

Word History and Origins

Origin of moiré¹

1650–60; < French < English mohair

Origin of moiré²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of moiré¹

C17: from French, from moire _mohair

Origin of moiré²

C17: from French, earlier mouaire, from _mohair