skein

noun

\ ˈskān

How to pronounce skein (audio)

\

Definition of skein

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 or less commonly skean or skeane \ ˈskān

How to pronounce skein (audio)

\ : a loosely coiled length of yarn or thread wound on a reel

2 : something suggesting the twists or coils of a skein : tangle

3 : a flock of wildfowl (such as geese or ducks) in flight

skein

verb

skeined; skeining; skeins

Definition of skein (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to wind into skeins skein yarn

Examples of skein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun His house was another thread in the skein of complications that consumed his life, all of which were caused or made worse by a lack of money. — New York Times, "The ‘Old American Dream,’ a Trap as the Floods Keep Coming," 23 Mar. 2021 What follows is a complicated skein of misunderstandings with painful consequences—leavened by touches of laughter along the way. — Terry Teachout, WSJ, "‘Katie Roche’ and ‘The Book of Magdalene’ Reviews: A Pair of Saints," 18 Feb. 2021 The estimated cost of improving global infrastructure, a skein of metaphorical Silk Roads encircling the world by land and (even more) by sea, rose to $6trn. — The Economist, "The World in 2021 The road to health?," 16 Nov. 2020 Scorsese presents not merely one skein of interlocking scandals but an existential vision of society, the very immoral essence of humankind, looked in the face and wearing suits. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "Watching “The Irishman” on Netflix Is the Best Way to See It," 2 Dec. 2019 Long skeins of glorious dancing — of quick-stepping, rhythmically complex Philadelphia footwork delivered in a cool, quiet manner — speak of inheritance, resilience, even confidence. — New York Times, "Music, Theater and More to Experience at Home This Weekend," 16 Apr. 2020 To meet her deadline, Ms. Durant recruited a skein full of knitters to assist. — Abby Ellin, New York Times, "A Good Yarn About Those ‘Carousel’ Costumes," 23 May 2018 The sky over Capitan Peak was going from orange and pink to deep blue and black, and long skeins of sandhill cranes coursed overhead. — T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, "A D.I.Y. Duck Hunt on Public Land in New Mexico," 10 Mar. 2020 Carvillian politics cannot go beyond analyzing the thin skein of polling and focus group data and then adopting whatever positions come out ahead. — Ed Burmila, The New Republic, "The Obsolete Politics of James Carville," 10 Feb. 2020

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about skein

Dictionary Entries near skein

Statistics for skein

Last Updated

31 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Skein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skein. Accessed 16 Apr. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for skein

skein

noun

English Language Learners Definition of skein

: a long piece of yarn or thread that is loosely wound

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

skein

noun

\ ˈskān

\

Kids Definition of skein

: a quantity of yarn or thread arranged in a loose coil

WORD OF THE DAY

lodestone

Listen to the pronunciation of lodestone

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ