silken
Americanadjective
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made of silk.
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like silk in smoothness, softness, glossiness, or delicateness.
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clad in silk.
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smoothly persuasive or ingratiating; mellifluous.
the senator's silken oratory.
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elegant; luxurious.
adjective
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made of silk
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resembling silk in smoothness or gloss
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dressed in silk
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soft and delicate
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rare luxurious or elegant
Etymology
Origin of silken
before 900; Middle English; Old English seolcen. See silk, -en 2
Explanation
If something is silken, it looks or feels as soft and shiny as silk. You can also describe things that feel like silk as silken, like your long silken hair that you coat with conditioner. The silken dress worn by a bride, or a silken scarf you wind around your neck may actually be made from the soft, slightly glossy material called silk. Your friend's long, silken hair, or a horse's silken mane, on the other hand, only resemble silk. Silken comes from the Latin word for "silk," sericum.
Vocabulary lists containing silken
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a debut, Mr. Miyake gave a more silken and nuanced portrayal, shaping his lighter-than-air moments of elevation with turns to give his character an ardent and flourished sweep.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Stirred into the steaming ditalini, the yolk turned silken and rich, cloaking the broth in the sort of luxurious texture that makes you briefly forget modern life altogether.
From Salon ● May 12, 2026
Teyana Taylor, who is up for best supporting actress for One Battle After Another, is bang on trend with the colour of her silken ruffled dress, in a deep, rich brown.
From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026
It’s also a perfect moment to sneak in some supportive protein: protein powder, silken tofu, or nut butters.
From Salon ● Jan. 29, 2026
They rushed through the halls of the palace, Lady Meng’s robes flowing behind her like silken water, to another door.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
