silken

adjective

silk·​en ˈsil-kən How to pronounce silken (audio)
1
: made or consisting of silk
2
: resembling silk: such as
a
b(1)
: agreeably smooth : harmonious
a silken voice
3
a
: dressed in silk
silken ankles
b
: having a richly luxurious quality
the same silken surroundings encountered at the restaurant's far more expensive evening mealElaine Tait

Examples of silken in a Sentence

the silken texture of the synthetic fabric she was unaccustomed to living in such silken surroundings
Recent Examples on the Web With the sister’s help, Smith selected a bird of paradise photograph to expand and print onto a selection of billowy, silken pieces. Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024 Now, in a related story, there is yet another hotel out there offering similar silken service to its guests. Debbi Kickham, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Creative director Ian Griffiths’ mood board included silken teddies, Belle Epoque’-inspired boule coats and photos of the French novelist Colette, whose spare style, the British designer said, inspired the collection’s simplicity. Colleen Barry, Quartz, 22 Feb. 2024 The skirt combos are paired with an accompanying jacket with a silken back panel, or twinsets in bold color combinations, royal red and purple, yesteryear olive and pink. Colleen Barry, Quartz, 22 Feb. 2024 Not only do the fine webs spun by the eight-legged critters trap prey such as flies, the silken structures also are capturing environmental DNA. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024 The presentation comprises oysters with passion-fruit mignonette and the day’s crudo—yellowtail with avocado, say, or scallops in yuzu—and chilled lobsters, their silken claws already flawlessly denuded. The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2023 Today, that practice of hanging upside down from silken hammocks to perform poses is common at studios across the region. Roland Wilkerson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024 Sitting on her head like a crown, the distinctive headpiece is in the shape of a heart or a butterfly, with a silken veil draping down over her high forehead in the front and down the sides to her shoulders. Ana María Velasco, Premium, 17 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near silken

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

silken

adjective
silk·​en ˈsil-kən How to pronounce silken (audio)
1
: made of or with silk
2
: resembling silk especially in soft smooth feel
3
: pleasantly smooth
a silken voice

More from Merriam-Webster on silken

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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