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

Simply Maggie uses Premier Yarns Couture Jazz yarn (and her own arms!) to whip up this beautiful blanket in just 45 minutes. — Madison Alcedo, Country Living, "5 Easy DIY Tutorials for That Viral Chunky Knit Blanket," 12 Dec. 2018 They are given yarn to pass the time making brightly colored bracelets and scarves. — Garance Burke And Martha Mendoza, The Seattle Times, "US waived FBI checks on staff at growing teen migrant camp," 28 Nov. 2018 In the eastern part of the state, Tunbridge's Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival showcases more than 70 vendors selling fleece, yarn, and hand-spun fabrics; there's also a cashmere exhibit and fiber arts classes. — Cassie Shortsleeve, Condé Nast Traveler, "See Vermont Fall Foliage in These 12 Beautiful Places," 2 Oct. 2018 The designers also used flexible, lightweight materials like a Japanese Kyotex lurex yarn, a nylon and rayon blend, and a polyester and spandex blend. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "Fitbit Gets a Redesign Thanks to the Knitwear Experts Behind PH5," 19 July 2018 Consider also that Mother’s Day falls when school is still in session, so the little ones can make their moms all kinds of handmade treasures from yarn, construction paper and macaroni during class. — John D'anna, USA TODAY, "Do we really need Father's Day? I'm a dad, and I don't think so," 15 June 2018 The uniforms are eco-friendly, too: The polyester yarn comes from recycled plastic bottles. — Condé Nast Traveler, "The Most Stylish Flight Attendant Uniforms," 15 Oct. 2018 The thickness of the yarn used for the fabric determines its durability. — Kim Bhasin, Bloomberg.com, "Why a Cashmere Sweater Can Cost $2,000 … or $30," 19 Apr. 2018 As is common with such yarns, things get tangled up when the psycho enters the picture. — Anne Nickoloff, cleveland.com, "Hear classic Cleveland songs in April 2018 Spotify playlist: 9 Shocks Terror, Blue Lunch, more," 5 Apr. 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"