tulle

¹ American  

[tool, tyl] / tul, tül /

noun

1. a thin, fine, machine-made net of acetate, nylon, rayon, or silk.

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Tulle ² American  

[tool, tyl] / tul, tül /

noun

1. a city in and the capital of Corrèze, in S central France.

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tulle British  

/ tjuːl /

noun

1. a fine net fabric of silk, rayon, etc, used for evening dresses, as a trimming for hats, etc

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Etymology

Origin of tulle

1810–20; < French, after Tulle, France, where first made

Explanation

Tulle is a type of fabric that's a stiff, fine netting and is often used to make gowns and wedding veils. Any dress for a formal occasion — a wedding, a bat mitzvah, a quinceañera — might have a tulle skirt. Tulle is most often made of manmade fibers like polyester or nylon, but it can also be made from silk. It comes in just about every color, and it's commonly used in wedding dresses and ballet tutus. The word tulle comes from the name of the French town where the fabric was originally made in 1817, Tulle.

Example Sentences

And here, each frame is a sumptuous feast of texture, light and color — like a swath of sweat-drenched tulle cast out onto the wind and into the fog.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

Lady Gaga embraced her "Mayhem" era, rocking a high-necked sleeveless black feather gown from Matieres Fecales that trailed behind her in wisps of tulle.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

The Bryants aren’t the only ones smiling by the time the last strips of white and purple tulle are wrapped around the mummy and the giant warty witch is securely tied against a tree.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2025

The show was described by many as dramatic - with dresses that more closely resembled lampshades, complete with delightful feathers, tassels and tulle.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2025

I felt like I’d been wrapped in silk tulle made of good luck and wishes come true.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Related Words

• fiber
• taffeta
• thread