gauze

noun \ ˈgȯz \

Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

Definition of gauze

1 a : a thin often transparent fabric used chiefly for clothing or draperies

b : a loosely woven cotton surgical dressing

c : a firm woven fabric of metal or plastic filaments

2 : haze

—

gauzelike

play \ˈgȯz-ˌlīk\ adjective

—

gauzily

play \ˈgȯ-zə-lē\ adverb

See gauze defined for English-language learners

See gauze defined for kids

Examples of gauze in a Sentence

He wrapped the wound in gauze.
wrapped in the pale gauze of a misty afternoon, the city seemed eerily romantic to the strolling lovers

Recent Examples of gauze from the Web

The kits include a tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, pressure dressing and airway and chest seal materials in a lightweight 6-inch by 4-inch zippered bag.

— karina bland, azcentral, "New statue to honor Granite Mountain Hotshots 5 years after Yarnell Hill Fire," 20 Apr. 2018
Patients are responsible for any material needed to treat them: needles, gauze pads, saline solution.

— julia jones and stefano pozzebon, CNN, "Venezuela health system in worse condition than expected, according to survey," 28 Mar. 2018
Apart from the physical signs and symptoms, to confirm identity of the agent, police and doctors take blood or other fluid samples, or wipe the patient’s skin with a gauze to pick up any residue of the agent.

— martin boland, Scientific American, "What We Know about Novichok, the ‘Newby’ Nerve Agent Linked to Russia," 14 Mar. 2018
The public health departments distributed gauze masks to be worn in public.

— kelly kazek, AL.com, "How the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic changed Alabama," 16 Jan. 2018
The gauze can be used to pack wounds and apply pressure to stop bleeding.

— patrick martin, chicagotribune.com, "Everyone can learn hemorrhage control on 'National Stop the Bleed Day'," 8 Mar. 2018
The starter Nathan Karns reached into his stall in the Royals clubhouse after his start Tuesday and pulled out an item wrapped in adhesive gauze.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "Padres 5, Royals 4: Nathan Karns returns to mound for first time since May | The Kansas City Star," 6 Mar. 2018
Anyone nursing a patient at home was required to wear a gauze mask and any handkerchiefs or clothing needed to be boiled or burned.

— dawn mitchell, Indianapolis Star, "RetroIndy: 1918 Spanish Influenza was swift and deadly," 31 Jan. 2018
By early autumn the public face of America and the Western world had a gauze mask on it.

— ashley halsey iii, Washington Post, "The flu can kill tens of millions of people. In 1918, that’s exactly what it did.," 27 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gauze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gauze

Middle French gaze

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1561

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

GAUZE Defined for English Language Learners

gauze

noun

Definition of gauze for English Language Learners

: a very thin cloth : cloth so thin that you can see through it
: loosely woven cotton that is used as a bandage

GAUZE Defined for Kids

gauze

noun \ ˈgȯz \

Definition of gauze for Students

1 : a thin fabric that allows light to pass through it

2 : loosely woven cotton used as a bandage

Medical Dictionary

gauze

noun \ ˈgȯz \

medical Definition of gauze

: a loosely woven cotton surgical dressing

Learn More about gauze

See words that rhyme with gauze Spanish Central: Translation of gauze Nglish: Translation of gauze for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gauze for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gauze

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gauze

Definition of gauze

gauzelike

gauzily

Examples of gauze in a Sentence

Recent Examples of gauze from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gauze

GAUZE Defined for English Language Learners

gauze

Definition of gauze for English Language Learners

GAUZE Defined for Kids

gauze

Definition of gauze for Students

Medical Dictionary

gauze

medical Definition of gauze

Learn More about gauze

Seen and Heard

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