silk

noun, often attributive

\ ˈsilk

Definition of silk

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually for cocoons especially : a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used for textiles

2 : thread, yarn, or fabric made from silk filaments

3a : a garment of silk

b(1) : a distinctive silk gown worn by a King's or Queen's Counsel

(2) : a King's or Queen's Counsel

c silks plural : the colored cap and blouse of a jockey or harness horse driver made in the registered racing color of the employing stable

4a : a filament resembling silk especially : one produced by a spider

b : silky material milkweed silk especially : the styles of an ear of corn

5 : parachute

silk

verb

silked; silking; silks

Definition of silk (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

of corn

: to develop the silk

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Examples of silk in a Sentence

Noun

a variety of silks and satins The robe has butterflies embroidered in silk on the sleeves. the silk of a spider's web

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Rosaly Rondon has deep, soulful eyes and wears a silk scarf around her neck. — Nathaniel Penn, Popular Mechanics, "The Day the Town Blew Up," 3 June 2019 Put a soft silk scarf over the buns to keep them in place, without the friction of your pillowcase rubbing on them. — Glamour, "How to Keep Curls Overnight Without Losing Their Shape," 14 May 2019 The Game of Thrones star, who is currently on a promotional tour for X-Men: Dark Phoenix, was snapped arriving at a party earlier this week in an unexpected outfit: a green, silk pajama set from Olivia von Halle. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Sophie Turner Wears Silk Pajamas to a Party—and the Airport," 29 May 2019 Linen is thick so the thread count is low, while silk is so thin that it's typically measured by weight. — Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, "Does the Thread Count of Your Sheets Matter? Bedding Experts Reveal the Truth," 17 May 2019 Although silk pillowcases in general will always have a special place in my heart, there’s one in particular that works best to keep my bed head at bay—the Slip For Beauty Sleep Pure Silk Pillowcase. — Tiffany Dodson, SELF, "Ever Since I Started Using This Silk Pillowcase, My Hair Has Never Looked Better," 12 Apr. 2019 Some stylists also recommend sleeping on a silk pillowcase or wrapping your hair in a scarf at night to keep the curls from frizzing. — Erin Reimel, Glamour, "I Got a Perm (Yes, a Perm) in Search of Perfect Beach Waves," 23 Mar. 2019 Tom Ford Tie The unique materials in this tie—a silk and linen blend—give it an especially satisfying texture. — The Editors, WSJ, "WSJ. Magazine’s Valentine’s Day Gift Guide," 11 Feb. 2019 Instead, sleep on a silk pillowcase, which retains moisture and reduces friction, and thus damage. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "6 Foolproof Tips for Growing Out Your Hair, According to Pro Stylists," 20 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In the end, a pink silked jockey named Javier Castellano rode City of Light in a victory that won him the the $9 million Pegasus World Cup and Chad Brown rode Bricks and Mortar to win the over $6 million prize Pegasus World Cup Turf. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, "Inside Miami's Pegasus Cup, the World’s Richest Horse Race," 1 Feb. 2019 Strip away silks only and grill the ears inside their husks after a 20-minute soak in cold water. — Cheryl Slocum, Country Living, "Truffle Oil, Garlic, and Parmesan Grilled Corn," 14 May 2011 Harbison, Fall 2014 His collaboration with Jim Thompson, silks that today are mostly considered for interiors not clothing, is just another example of how designers are increasingly blurring the lines between decor and fashion. — Sarah Bray, ELLE Decor, "Why We're Seeing Home Fabrics On The Runways," 12 May 2014 Back in the U.S., Variety held its Power of Young Hollywood party, where Zendaya, Charli XCX, Yara Shahidi, and more walked the red (well, black) carpet in everything from Swarovski crystal suits to silk pajamas. — vanityfair.com, "Week in Fashion: Rihanna Hits Crop Over," 11 Aug. 2017

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

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Statistics for silk

Last Updated

17 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for silk

The first known use of silk was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for silk

silk

noun

English Language Learners Definition of silk

: a smooth, soft, and shiny cloth that is made from thread produced by silkworms also : the thread that is used to make silk

: the thread that is produced by a spider

: the thin strings in an ear of corn

See the full definition for silk in the English Language Learners Dictionary

silk

noun

\ ˈsilk

Kids Definition of silk

1 : a fine fiber that is spun by many insect larvae usually to form their cocoon or by spiders to make their webs and that includes some kinds used for weaving cloth

2 : thread, yarn, or fabric made from silk

3 : the threadlike strands that are found over the kernels of an ear of corn

silk

noun

\ ˈsilk

Medical Definition of silk

1 : a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually for cocoons especially : a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used for textiles

2 : strands of silk thread of various thicknesses used as suture material in surgery surgical silk