yarn

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈyärn 

1

a

: a continuous often plied strand composed of either natural or synthetic fibers or filaments and used in weaving and knitting to form cloth

b

: a similar strand of another material (such as metal, glass, or plastic)

2

[from the idiom spin a yarn "to tell a tale"] : a narrative of adventures

especially : a tall tale

a roaring good yarn

yarn

2 of 3

verb

yarned; yarning; yarns

intransitive verb

: to tell a yarn

yarner noun

yarner

3 of 3

noun (2)

yarn·​er

ˈyärnər, 

ˈyȧnə(r

plural -s

1

: a teller of yarns or tall tales

2

: a pipelayer who caulks joints (as with oakum or yarn)

Synonyms of yarn

Noun (1)

• tale
• story

Examples of yarn in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The sheep's wool will be spun into yarn.

yarns about ghosts and goblins

a storyteller who spins yarns that will keep any audience riveted

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Through Rainbow Wool's collaboration with Grindr, the pair heralded a fashion show in New York City in November 2025 with a collection of 37 unique knitwear pieces made of yarn spun from the wool of the sheep on Stücke's farm. — Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

But perhaps not — his tale is inevitably something to wonder at, evidence of humans’ capacity to spin a yarn that flatters our egos and urge to understand our spiritual selves, and to buy into what’s spun. — Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026

Verb

Put a hole in the bottom of two or more plastic cups and thread string or yarn through each one. — Parents, 11 June 2026

Leung suggests bending extra wire hangers into frames for mini planters and attaching small pouches with twine or yarn to hold air plants. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English yerne, yarne "spun fiber," going back to Old English gearn, going back to Germanic *garna- (whence also Middle Dutch gaern, garen "spun fiber," Old High German & Old Norse garn), masculine noun probably from the same base as feminine *garnō "intestine" (whence Old Norse gǫrn, plural garnar "guts") and *garnja- (in Old English micgern, midirne "fat around the entrails of an animal," Old Saxon midgarni, Old High German mittigarni, with *midja- mid entry 1), going back to Indo-European *ǵhorH-n- (whence also Lithuanian žarnà "intestine" and Greek khordḗ "catgut, string of a musical instrument, sausage," in plural "guts, tripe," if altered from *khornḗ), suffixed o-grade derivative of *ǵhr̥H- "gut, cord made from animal intestines," whence Latin haru- "intestines" (in haruspex haruspex), Sanskrit híraḥ "band, strip," hirā́ "vein"

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb

1859, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing yarn

• spun yarn
• yarn-dye

Rhymes for yarn

• arn
• barn
• barne
• carn
• darn
• garn
• karn
• skarn

Kids Definition

yarn

1 of 2 noun

ˈyärn 

1

a

: a natural or manufactured fiber (as cotton, wool, or rayon) formed as a continuous strand for use in knitting or weaving

b

: a similar strand of another material (as metal, glass, or plastic)

2

: an interesting or exciting story

yarn

2 of 2 verb

: to tell a yarn