wool

noun

ˈwu̇l 

often attributive

1

: the soft wavy or curly usually thick undercoat of various hairy mammals and especially the sheep made up of a matrix of keratin fibers and covered with minute scales

2

: a product of wool

especially : a woven fabric or garment of such fabric

3

a

: a dense felted pubescence especially on a plant : tomentum

b

: a filamentous mass

—usually used in combination compare mineral wool, steel wool

see also:

pull the wool over one's eyes

Synonyms of wool

• hair
• coat
• fleece
• fur

Examples of wool in a Sentence

She doesn't like wool because it can be itchy.

the wool from cashmere goats is considered by many to be the finest available

Recent Examples on the Web

Think, beautiful cashmere and fuzzy mohair, or even a heavier wool. — Hannah Coates, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026

Ackroyd, a longtime figure in the international wool industry, died unexpectedly in July after serving as Campaign for Wool chairman since January 2025. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Cushions, for example, are covered in raw wool produced on Vancouver Island and handwoven by a local textile studio, and traditional bentwood boxes and bowls were crafted by Moy Sutherland, a Tlaoquiaht First Nations artist from a nearby village. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

He is known for buying his Trinidad house, now a museum, for 22,000 pounds of wool. — Michelle Griego, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wolle, from Old English wull; akin to Old High German wolla wool, Latin vellus fleece, lana wool

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing wool

• combing wool
• cotton wool
• cotton wool ball
• dyed-in-the-wool
• glass wool
• lamb's wool
• mineral wool
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• pull the wool over someone's eyes
• Shetland wool
• steel wool
• virgin wool
• wire wool
• wool fat
• wool grease

Rhymes for wool

• full
• pull
• brimful
• handful
• mirthful
• mouthful
• roomful
• spoonful

Kids Definition

wool

noun

ˈwu̇l 

1

: the soft wavy or curly usually thick undercoat of various mammals and especially the sheep

2

: a fabric or garment made of wool

3

: material that resembles a mass of wool

wooled

ˈwu̇ld

adjective