texture

1 of 2

noun

tex·​ture ˈteks-chər How to pronounce texture (audio)
1
a
: the visual or tactile surface characteristics and appearance of something
the texture of an oil painting
b
: the disposition or manner of union of the particles of a body or substance
2
a
: a composite of the elements of prose or poetry
all these words … meet violently to form a texture impressive and excitingJohn Berryman
b
: a pattern of musical sound created by tones or lines played or sung together
3
a
: essential part : substance
b
: identifying quality : character
4
a
: something composed of closely interwoven elements
specifically : a woven cloth
b
: the structure formed by the threads of a fabric
5
a
: basic scheme or structure
b
: overall structure
textural adjective
texturally adverb
textured adjective
textureless adjective

texture

2 of 2

verb

textured; texturing

transitive verb

: to give a particular texture to

Examples of texture in a Sentence

Noun wood with a rough texture the smooth texture of silk The plant's leaves are almost leathery in texture. foods with very different textures The custard should be smooth and creamy in texture. a song with layered textures I liked the raw, gritty texture of the film. The movies are similar in texture. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Now, take a moment to analyze your hair's texture and overall health. Allure, 30 Nov. 2023 His love for textures was instilled in him by his parents’ relationship with clothing. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 29 Nov. 2023 Lighting effects sweep across her glassy and shimmering textures, while an ambient soundscape by her partner, Salvador Breed, rises and recedes from room to room. Amy Verner, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023 Combining the two not only adds texture, volume, and variety to your arrangement, but your lush centerpiece will likely last longer and cost less. Sarah Lemire, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2023 The light and the composition of the plants between the trunks, together with the shapes and colors of the autumn leaves, create texture and balance. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 There are so many ingredients and textures and techniques in this book. Jessica Carbone, Saveur, 28 Nov. 2023 Use Retinoids Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that help improve skin texture and minimize wrinkles. Hallie Gould, Health, 25 Nov. 2023 Tatcha’s Water Cream is one of the retailer's best-selling moisturizers for its oil-free, gel-like texture. Malia Griggs, Glamour, 20 Nov. 2023
Verb
The team's approach combined digital scanning with micro-computed tomography—a noninvasive technique often used for cancer imaging—with segmentation to digitally create pages, augmented with texturing and flattening techniques. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 16 Oct. 2023 Colorful Black Founded by Anne-Marie Mendy in 2009, Colorful Black specialized serving the Black and mixed-race communities, with their offerings ranging from complexion to texture. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2023 The sculptures consist of two or more large irregular forms cast in aluminum from chunks of Styrofoam shaped and textured in different ways. Roberta Smith, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023 Gonzalez features his polychromatic and stucco textured depiction of L.A.’s advertorial landscape on a cotton sweater, canvas workwear jacket and pants. The Editors, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 The rubber strap is textured with a Clous de Paris pattern, another Polaris feature. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2023 About three-quarters of her dark brunette hair was textured while the hair closest to her roots was straighter. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 21 Aug. 2023 Other accessories included black oval shades, gold textured square pendant earrings, a gold bracelet, and a thin gold chain necklace. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Aug. 2023 These moments — reaching for carnal pleasure but landing somewhere in fleeting-sizzle territory — rarely texture the narrative’s emotional trajectory. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2023 See More

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

Noun

Latin textura, from textus, past participle of texere to weave — more at technical

First Known Use

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

1694, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of texture was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near texture

Cite this Entry

“Texture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/texture. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

texture

1 of 2 noun
tex·​ture ˈteks-chər How to pronounce texture (audio)
1
: the structure, feel, and appearance of something (as a fabric)
the smooth texture of silk
wood with a rough texture
2
: a quality that identifies something
textured adjective

texture

2 of 2 verb
textured; texturing
: to give a particular texture to
texture a ceiling

More from Merriam-Webster on texture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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