yarn

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: 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

2 of 2

verb

yarned; yarning; yarns

intransitive verb

: to tell a yarn
yarner noun

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 mill uses the two types of yarn to weave the fabric. Esha Chhabra, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 Playing with scale by mere millimeters, or incorporating a single rogue color into a length of yarn, can result in wildly varied yet highly personal results. Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2024
Verb
Reconciliation Week often inspired little more than sarcastic quips, side-eyes and giggles while yarning in our cramped family living room, the waiting areas of our local Aboriginal Medical Service and the common areas at University Indigenous institutes. Phoebe McIlwraith, refinery29.com, 30 May 2024 Notably, the company has complete control of its entire production supply chain from the fleece to yarn to ensure and certify the quality and craftsmanship of its fabrics. WWD, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for yarn 

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

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"

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yarn was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near yarn

Cite this Entry

“Yarn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yarn. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

yarn

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a natural or manufactured fiber (as cotton, wool, or rayon) formed as a continuous strand for use in knitting or weaving
b
: a similar strand of another material (as metal, glass, or plastic)
2
: an interesting or exciting story

yarn

2 of 2 verb
: to tell a yarn

More from Merriam-Webster on yarn

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