nylon

[nahy-lon]

noun

any of a class of thermoplastic polyamides capable of extrusion when molten into fibers, sheets, etc., of extreme toughness, strength, and elasticity, synthesized by the interaction of a dicarboxylic acid with a diamine: used especially for yarn, fabrics, and bristles, as for brushes.
nylons, stockings made of nylon, especially sheer, full-length ones for women.

Origin of nylon

1938; coined as a generic by the du Pont Chemical Co. as distinct from known words and having no prior meaning or use, but with the suffix -on suggesting other textile fibers such as rayon

Related formshalf-ny·lon, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for nylon

Contemporary Examples of nylon

The mother unties the palm staves from the mattress, then takes the nylon ropes and ties the mattress to the boat.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq
Nathan Bradley Bethea
August 31, 2014
Other techniques included laser-cut laces, braiding, and high-gloss liquid fabrics made from silk and nylon.
Iris Van Herpen Spring/Summer 2014: Sonic Youth
Liza Foreman
October 1, 2013
My hands were cuffed together; my legs were burning from the nylon rope my mother had used to tie me to my bed.
Handcuffs, Ropes, and an Open Window: How I Escaped an Unthinkable Childhood
Genyfer Spark
January 29, 2012
She has written for NYLON, NYLON Guys, and thehandbook.co.uk, a London-based website.
Women Who Rule the Stage: Theater Goddesses Honored at Second Annual Lilly Awards
Lizzie Crocker
June 9, 2011
She has written for NYLON, NYLON Guys, and thehandbook.co.uk, a London-based website.
Midwinter Madness in New York 2011
Lizzie Crocker
February 23, 2011

Historical Examples of nylon

We were allergic to women from their nylon hose to their face powder.
Homesick
Lyn Venable
It was a real top deal, in a class with nylon or jukeboxes or bubblegum.
Greener Than You Think
Ward Moore
He caught her in his arms as they cascaded into a tangle of limbs and nylon.
The Deadly Daughters
Winston K. Marks
It's all foam rubber, nylon braid supports and magnesium tubing.
The Dope on Mars
John Michael Sharkey
The nylon cord was hooked into a bolt near the center of the ship.
The Secret of the Ninth Planet
Donald Allen Wollheim

British Dictionary definitions for nylon

nylon

noun

a class of synthetic polyamide materials made by copolymerizing dicarboxylic acids with diamines. They can be moulded into a variety of articles, such as combs and machine parts. Nylon monofilaments are used for bristles, etc, and nylon fibres can be spun into yarn
1. yarn or cloth made of nylon, used for clothing, stockings, etc
2. (as modifier)a nylon dress See also nylons

Word Origin for nylon

C20: originally a trademark

NYLON

noun

informal a high-earning business executive who enjoys a transatlantic lifestyle, living part of the year in New York City and part in London

Word Origin for NYLON

C20: from N (ew) Y (ork) + Lon (don)

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

Word Origin and History for nylon

1938, coined, according to DuPont, from random generic syllable nyl- + -on, common ending in fiber names (cf. rayon), said to be ultimately from cotton. Use (in plural) for "nylon stockings" is from 1940.

nylon in Science

nylon

[nī′lŏn′]

Any of various materials made of synthetic polyamides (a type of nitrogen-containing polymer). Nylon is very strong and elastic, and can be formed into fibers, sheets, or bristles. It is used to make fabrics, plastics, and molded products.