yarn

noun

\ ˈyärn

Definition of yarn

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a continuous often plied strand composed of either natural or man-made fibers or filaments and used in weaving and knitting to form cloth

b : a similar strand of another material (such as metal, glass, or plastic)

2 [ from the idiom spin a yarn "to tell a tale" ] : a narrative of adventures especially : a tall tale a roaring good yarn

yarn

verb

yarned; yarning; yarns

Definition of yarn (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to tell a yarn

Other Words from yarn Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about yarn

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Examples of yarn in a Sentence

Noun

The sheep's wool will be spun into yarn. yarns about ghosts and goblins a storyteller who spins yarns that will keep any audience riveted

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The blanket is made from organic cotton yarn and available in six different colors including pink, gray, and sky blue. — Sam Gutierrez, House Beautiful, "Everyone Needs A Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket," 11 Dec. 2018 There's toilet paper, a sponge, a ball of yarn, even a singular puzzle piece. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Check Out the Newest Wave of Emojis That You Can Get on Your Phone Now," 31 Oct. 2018 These reinforcing effects mean that our social fabric can fray at the edges, like a yarn that comes loose at the end of a crocheted sweater. — Michael Andor Brodeur, BostonGlobe.com, "In a lonely place, with Trump," 16 June 2018 The 4-by-5-foot blanket takes about 45 minutes and requires about eight pounds of yarn. — Madison Alcedo, Country Living, "5 Easy DIY Tutorials for That Viral Chunky Knit Blanket," 12 Dec. 2018 Well, first of all, JOANN's entire stock of yarn, sewing notions, unfinished wood, and 2 oz acrylic paints are all buy one, get one 75 percent off. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "JOANN Is Having A Crazy 75th Anniversary Sale," 2 Aug. 2018 Available at garage-sale prices will be fabric, yarn, patterns, beads, buttons, sewing machines and more. — Phil Marty, chicagotribune.com, "Midwest film festivals and more among things to do in April," 16 Mar. 2018 All of the yarn is hand-dyed and hand-spun using raw wool. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "How Moroccan Rugs Are Made: Weaving With Women in the Atlas Mountains," 19 Nov. 2018 The strips, for cats and dogs, are made in Woodinville and pack Omega-3s into every delicious bite. $5 at Mud Bay Keep your dog warm and fashionable in an adorable snood made of highly reflective yarn in teal, purple or black. — Bree Coven Foster, The Seattle Times, "Best pet gifts for your four-legged friends," 14 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Forty-eight vendors sold everything from fresh beef and eggs to yarn made from alpaca fiber, handmade signs and bags, to natural soaps and body products. — Denise Coffey, Courant Community, "Winter Farmers Market Draws Hundreds," 21 Mar. 2018 Kaye, who has since created crochet content for the Gap, Valentino, Starbucks, and Miller Lite (in which she yarn bombed an entire 50-by-25 foot billboard in Times Square), started crocheting at 13, selling scarves to her dance studio classmates. — Niree Noel, Los Angeles Magazine, "London Kaye Is Bombing L.A. (With Yarn)," 9 Feb. 2018

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

History and Etymology for yarn

Noun

Middle English yerne, yarne "spun fiber," going back to Old English gearn, going back to Germanic *garna- (whence also Middle Dutch gaern, garen "spun fiber," Old High German & Old Norse garn), masculine noun probably from the same base as feminine *garnō "intestine" (whence Old Norse gǫrn, plural garnar "guts") and *garnja- (in Old English micgern, midirne "fat around the entrails of an animal," Old Saxon midgarni, Old High German mittigarni, with *midja- mid entry 1), going back to Indo-European *ǵhorH-n- (whence also Lithuanian žarnà "intestine" and Greek khordḗ "catgut, string of a musical instrument, sausage," in plural "guts, tripe," if altered from *khornḗ), suffixed o-grade derivative of *ǵhr̥H- "gut, cord made from animal intestines," whence Latin haru- "intestines" (in haruspex haruspex), Sanskrit híraḥ "band, strip," hirā́ "vein"