tex·ture
ˈteks-chər 
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 exciting—
John Berryman
John Berryman
b
: a pattern of musical sound created by tones or lines played or sung together
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
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.
Recent Examples on the WebCaron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2024
Another challenge to pairing wine with spicy food is that hot or pungent dishes work best with wines that are low in tannin and have somewhat full textures, many of which are off the well-trodden wine track.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2024
Expect bright colors, interesting textures, and a generally bright atmosphere.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024
What resulted is a collection of tracks that flow from one to the next, spanning mood and texture.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Broccoli florets, frozen asparagus, and baby carrots: Adds a nutrient-rich boost and pops of color and texture throughout the casserole.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024
Hair rarely stays the same, shifting in its thickness and texture with time, amid stress, and through health changes like pregnancy and menopause.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
Some of the shrimp is finely chipped into a paste with onion and garlic to act as a binder when mixed with big chunks of shrimp, offering a range of bouncy, fluffy and tender textures.
—Paola Briseño-Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Rich in texture and flavor, sufficiently sturdy for decorating a cake, and just sweet enough, many of us on Team BHG are proud members of the cream cheese frosting fan club, too.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
That power speaks succinctly to the piano and cello moment, with some additional effectiveness textured deliciously within Howard Ho’s sound design.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Our Tips for the Best Ham Biscuits When making ham biscuits, keep these tips in mind for the most consistent results:
Flour quantity: Spoon and level (or weigh) your flour to achieve the same dough texture every time.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
Rich floral and red fruit notes sweetened with honey and textured with hearty oak and brown spices.
—The Courier-Journal, 29 Mar. 2024
The seam in the middle divided two fabrics, one that was smooth and the other textured with a long train that wrapped around her wrist with a gold chain attached.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 22 Mar. 2024
Hausmann-Stokes served for five years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in Iraq before pursuing filmmaking full-time; his experience textures the lives of these fictional veterans.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024
Their combined consistency is at once smooth and gently textured, and the taste leans slightly toward sweetness, though slivers of pickled onion strewn over the top bend the overall flavors back toward savory.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Details that in the past might have been highly textured have been lightened considerably, and are even screen-printed or heat-pressed by some brands.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
Create a kitchen oasis with organic shapes and textures in cabinetry and countertops, using sustainable materials like bamboo or cork to also reduce environmental impact.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2024
Another challenge to pairing wine with spicy food is that hot or pungent dishes work best with wines that are low in tannin and have somewhat full textures, many of which are off the well-trodden wine track.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2024
Expect bright colors, interesting textures, and a generally bright atmosphere.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024
What resulted is a collection of tracks that flow from one to the next, spanning mood and texture.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Broccoli florets, frozen asparagus, and baby carrots: Adds a nutrient-rich boost and pops of color and texture throughout the casserole.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024
Hair rarely stays the same, shifting in its thickness and texture with time, amid stress, and through health changes like pregnancy and menopause.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
Some of the shrimp is finely chipped into a paste with onion and garlic to act as a binder when mixed with big chunks of shrimp, offering a range of bouncy, fluffy and tender textures.
—Paola Briseño-Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Rich in texture and flavor, sufficiently sturdy for decorating a cake, and just sweet enough, many of us on Team BHG are proud members of the cream cheese frosting fan club, too.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
Verb
The fruit is mashed, then bound into tender muffin form with whole-wheat flour and egg, perfumed with cinnamon and vanilla, and textured with a crunch of pecans, for a cakelike experience that is nourishing, too.
—Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
That power speaks succinctly to the piano and cello moment, with some additional effectiveness textured deliciously within Howard Ho’s sound design.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Our Tips for the Best Ham Biscuits When making ham biscuits, keep these tips in mind for the most consistent results:
Flour quantity: Spoon and level (or weigh) your flour to achieve the same dough texture every time.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
Rich floral and red fruit notes sweetened with honey and textured with hearty oak and brown spices.
—The Courier-Journal, 29 Mar. 2024
The seam in the middle divided two fabrics, one that was smooth and the other textured with a long train that wrapped around her wrist with a gold chain attached.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 22 Mar. 2024
Hausmann-Stokes served for five years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in Iraq before pursuing filmmaking full-time; his experience textures the lives of these fictional veterans.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024
Their combined consistency is at once smooth and gently textured, and the taste leans slightly toward sweetness, though slivers of pickled onion strewn over the top bend the overall flavors back toward savory.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Details that in the past might have been highly textured have been lightened considerably, and are even screen-printed or heat-pressed by some brands.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near texture
Cite this Entry
“Texture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/texture. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
texture
1 of 2 noun
tex·ture
ˈteks-chər
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
texture
2 of 2 verb
textured; texturing
: to give a particular texture to
texture a ceiling
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