yarn

1 of 2

noun

ˈyärn 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• tale
• story

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 throw is crafted with polyester, but don’t be fooled by its price; the intricate, woven yarn resembles that of expensive chenille, with a buttery-smooth texture that feels luxuriously soft to the touch. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025

Jansem said the yarn can be adapted to different weights and weaves, creating potential applications beyond fashion. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025

Verb

Shorter lead times are hard because someone needs to commit to yarn, greige or finished goods and there is a cost involved with this and no one wants to pick up the tab. —Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 10 Oct. 2025

Glue the shapes to yarn before hanging on a mantel. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing yarn

• spun yarn
• yarn-dye

Rhymes for yarn

• arn
• barn
• barne
• carn
• darn
• garn
• karn
• skarn

Kids Definition

yarn

1 of 2 noun

ˈyärn 

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