chenille

noun

che·​nille shə-ˈnēl How to pronounce chenille (audio)
1
: a wool, cotton, silk, or rayon yarn with protruding pile
also : a pile-face fabric with a filling of this yarn
2
: an imitation of chenille yarn or fabric

Examples of chenille in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This ridiculously soft chenille blanket is perfect to wrap yourself up in for movie nights, or TV marathons, or to drape across a neutral bed or sofa to add a touch of fall vibes. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2023 In 2000, the firm made some of the first stylish home office chairs — in red chenille — for Crate & Barrel. Jura Koncius, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2023 The chairs on our list come in a variety of fabrics: genuine and faux leather, linen, cotton, chenille, polyester, velvet, and suede. Addie Morton, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2023 Sleek furniture, bespoke rugs from Nepal, Brazilian marble, sumptuous velvet chenille fabrics and touches of smoke glass and warm metallic accents also figure in. Shivani Vora, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Common sectional upholstery materials include everything from chenille to linen to leather and velvet. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2023 Find it on Amazon Snuggle Up with This Cozy Chunky Knit Blanket The Hearth & Stone blanket is essential for snuggle season, with its soft chenille yarn and chunky knit adding texture and style to your place. Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2023 Lastly, layer the complementing linen chenille throw draped effortlessly over the sofa for that cozy ‘come snuggle’ vibe. Leslie J. Thompson, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023 The Chloë Sevigny x FA capsule collection contains feminine and functional pink and black streetwear — adorned with ribbons, embroidery and chenille patches — as well as skateboards featuring Sevigny’s iconic high school yearbook photo. The Editors, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chenille.' 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

French, literally, caterpillar, from Latin canicula, diminutive of canis dog; from its hairy appearance — more at hound

First Known Use

circa 1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chenille was circa 1739

Dictionary Entries Near chenille

Cite this Entry

“Chenille.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chenille. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

chenille

noun
che·​nille shə-ˈnē(ə)l How to pronounce chenille (audio)
: a thick fuzzy fabric

More from Merriam-Webster on chenille

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