the loop formed by the pile of a fabric when left uncut.
Also called terry cloth. a pile fabric, usually of cotton, with loops on both sides, as in a Turkish towel.
made of such a fabric.
a terry bathrobe.
having the pile loops uncut.
terry velvet.
Bill William Harold Terry, 1898–1989, U.S. baseball player and manager: Baseball Hall of Fame 1954.
Clark, 1920–2015, U.S. jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player and singer.
Dame Ellen Alice Ellen Terry, 1847–1928, English actress, the leading Shakespearean and comic stage actress of her time.
Megan Marguerite Duffy, 1932–2023, U.S. playwright noted for her contributions to avant-garde theater in the 1960s.
an uncut loop in the pile of towelling or a similar fabric
a fabric with such a pile on both sides
( as modifier )
a terry towel
Dame Ellen. 1847–1928, British actress, noted for her Shakespearean roles opposite Sir Henry Irving and for her correspondence with George Bernard Shaw
( John ) Quinlan (ˈkwɪnlən). born 1937, British architect, noted for his works in neoclassical style, such as the Richmond riverside project (1984)
First recorded in 1775–85; perhaps variant of terret
The soft, plush material that's used to make towels and bathrobes is terry. After a day of hiking in the cold, you might enjoy a mug of hot chocolate while lounging in a comfy terry robe. Look closely at terry (also called terry cloth), and you'll see that it's made from loops of thread. These loops give terry its softness, and they also make it especially good at absorbing water. Baby clothing, cloth diapers, and sweatbands are all commonly made of terry. Terry towels were first made and sold industrially in 1850.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I make hotpads from worn-out terry cloth towels and I turn fabric scraps into comforter tops.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
I feel suffocated and claustrophobic, and my heart rate accelerates as the terry cloth towers batter my car from all sides, and I experience my deepest fear: a loss of control.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2024
The comfy, thick robe is made from 100% cotton terry, making it highly absorbent and perfect to throw on after a hot shower or pool day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2022
A soft white terry track suit gave way to Dolce&Gabbana’s familiar bling: a crystal covered rose-pattern jacket, worn with torn white jeans and velvet rhinestone covered slippers.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 18, 2022
I replaced the receiver just as Lily was coming into the bedroom in her white fluffy terry cloth robe.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
“Hey, Terry? What’s up, brother? Hey, man, your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special,” Harper says in the video.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Her father, Terry, 75, made his fortune in the oil and gas industry, later selling the majority of its assets to Royal Dutch for a reported $4.7 billion in 2010.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
"But nature doesn't know the difference between Burlish Meadows and Burlish Top," said Matthew Terry, another of the Friends.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
Some of the world’s most-respected investors, including Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Terry Smith, Bill Nygren and Joel Greenblatt have stressed distributable cash over accounting profits.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
She doesn’t want to get Terry in trouble.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
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.
