mercerize
verb
                                                                                                                            
                                                            mer·cer·ize
                    
                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                  ˈmər-sə-ˌrīz  
                                                      
                                                          
            
            
              mercerized; mercerizing            
        
    
                                
              
          
                                                      : to give (a material, such as cotton yarn) luster, strength, and receptiveness to dyes by treatment under tension with caustic soda                                      
                
                    
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