silk

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
: a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually for cocoons
especially : a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used for textiles
2
: thread, yarn, or fabric made from silk filaments
3
a
: a garment of silk
b(1)
: a distinctive silk gown worn by a King's or Queen's Counsel
(2)
: a King's or Queen's Counsel
c
silks plural : the colored cap and blouse of a jockey or harness horse driver made in the registered racing color of the employing stable
4
a
: a filament resembling silk
especially : one produced by a spider
b
: silky material
milkweed silk
especially : the styles of an ear of corn
5
silklike adjective

silk

2 of 2

verb

silked; silking; silks

intransitive verb

of corn
: to develop the silk

Examples of silk in a Sentence

Noun a variety of silks and satins The robe has butterflies embroidered in silk on the sleeves. the silk of a spider's web
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The top and bottoms of a tracksuit are made of a silk blend with a white and navy colorway that nods to a clerical collar. Nicole Demarco Dalya Benor Caitie Kelly Juan A. Ramírez Monica Mendal Janet Siroto, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Floral sculptures appear throughout the store, including one that is garbed in a silk robe. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Daniel Benson Sheer silk blouse; front kick skirt, both Givenchy. Martha Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 With vocals that feel like braided silk and rhythms like waves slowly lapping in a sepulcher, The Rot carries the listener to a romantic – almost gothic – space while keeping one tethered to reality. Spin Contributor, SPIN, 11 Mar. 2024 Styled by Law Roach and wearing her hair in soft waves, the actress stunned in an antique rose silk gown with a single roped strap. Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 The Dune star, 27, who is attending this year's Oscars as a presenter, walked the red carpet in a head-turning a Giorgio Armani Privé antique rose silk gown with a single roped strap. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 On him: Dries Van Noten brown linen, viscose, and silk coat, $2,385; Ralph Lauren Purple Label white cotton and silk henley shirt, $395; Giorgio Armani cognac linen pants, $2,095, and brown leather belt, $425; Hermès black sandals with notched sole in liquorice cotton serge and calfskin, $920. Alex Badia, Robb Report, 2 Mar. 2024 This powder has also been infused with rice silk powder to leave your skin with a soft-focus finish. Clare Holden, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
The company’s woven viscose bamboo threads are similar to silk and cashmere, offering luxury while remaining earth-friendly. Jean Chen Smith, Cincinnati.com, 13 May 2020 In the end, a pink silked jockey named Javier Castellano rode City of Light in a victory that won him the the $9 million Pegasus World Cup and Chad Brown rode Bricks and Mortar to win the over $6 million prize Pegasus World Cup Turf. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2019 Strip away silks only and grill the ears inside their husks after a 20-minute soak in cold water. Cheryl Slocum, Country Living, 14 May 2011 Harbison, Fall 2014 His collaboration with Jim Thompson, silks that today are mostly considered for interiors not clothing, is just another example of how designers are increasingly blurring the lines between decor and fashion. Sarah Bray, ELLE Decor, 12 May 2014 Back in the U.S., Variety held its Power of Young Hollywood party, where Zendaya, Charli XCX, Yara Shahidi, and more walked the red (well, black) carpet in everything from Swarovski crystal suits to silk pajamas. vanityfair.com, 11 Aug. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English seolc, sioluc, probably ultimately from Greek sērikos silken — more at sericeous

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silk was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near silk

Cite this Entry

“Silk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silk. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

silk

noun
ˈsilk
1
: a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually to form their cocoons
especially : a strong glossy elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used to weave cloth
2
: thread, yarn, or fabric made from silk
3
: something resembling silk: as
a
: the thread produced by a spider
b
: the cluster of thin threadlike parts at the end of an ear of corn that are styles of the ovaries

Medical Definition

silk

noun
1
: a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually for cocoons
especially : a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used for textiles
2
: strands of silk thread of various thicknesses used as suture material in surgery
surgical silk

More from Merriam-Webster on silk

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