sisal
Americannoun
-
Also called sisal hemp. a fiber yielded by an agave, Agave sisalana, of Yucatán, used for making rope, rugs, etc.
-
the plant itself.
noun
-
a Mexican agave plant, Agave sisalana, cultivated for its large fleshy leaves, which yield a stiff fibre used for making rope
-
the fibre of this plant
-
any of the fibres of certain similar or related plants
Etymology
Origin of sisal
1835–45; short for Sisal grass or hemp, named after Sisal, port in Yucatán
Vocabulary lists containing sisal
Africa - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Africa - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Africa - High School - annex
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The sisal plant grows naturally in the east African country and is the best material for bristle boards, lowering operating costs.
From BBC • May 30, 2025
For indoor rugs, rather than moving all the furniture, you can pop a fuzzy rug over your cotton or sisal rug until the robins start singing.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2023
"For instance, pairing a plush sheepskin accent rug on top of a woven sisal rug is a great way to contrast the two materials in a soft yet effective way."
From Salon • Jul. 29, 2022
The work, composed of metal rods hung from the ceiling and covered in strands of sisal which bristle and glow in the light, also invokes aspects of a colonial past.
From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2022
Instead we had long, accordion-like barriers, made from sisal, that worked by a pneumatic pump located down in the basement.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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.
