often attributive
1
: the soft wavy or curly usually thick undercoat of various hairy mammals and especially the sheep made up of a matrix of keratin fibers and covered with minute scales
2
: a product of wool
especially : a woven fabric or garment of such fabric
3
a
: a dense felted pubescence especially on a plant : tomentum
b
: a filamentous mass
usually used in combination
compare mineral wool, steel wool

Examples of wool in a Sentence

She doesn't like wool because it can be itchy. the wool from cashmere goats is considered by many to be the finest available
Recent Examples on the Web Stern was dressed in chinos and an oversized wool blazer; Margie, who served as the congregation’s rabbi for fifteen years, until 2020, watched from the audience. Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024 On the carpet, Batiste is wearing a burgundy wool blazer with matching wide-leg pants and a shirt with stand-up collar. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Smith carved some nearby pine into a sphere and wound it with wool and cotton before layering it with cloth and stitching it together to produce the first of countless homemade balls manufactured at Stalag Luft III. Jack Bantock, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Try out different scents for each season, too; something that wears like a wool sweater in winter will feel out of place in summer; use that as an excuse to get something aquatic or green in the warmer months. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Of course, sunny spring mornings can still be shockingly cold, so be sure to pick up a high-quality merino wool Icebreaker Reversible Pocket 200 Beanie for just $21, as well as the lightweight Outdoor Research Women’s Trail Mix Glove while it’s marked down 35 percent. Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 Ferrera wore a custom Dior Haute Couture black wool and silk crepe dress with white organza sleeves. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 Itto now leads a cooperative of women who weave high-quality rugs in the valley of Ait Hamza, which is known for its sheep and wool. Laurel Dalrymple, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024 The mod mood was reflected in tunic-style tops paired with miniskirts and pants, in a windowpane check, or wool trimmed in crystal. Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

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

Middle English wolle, from Old English wull; akin to Old High German wolla wool, Latin vellus fleece, lana wool

First Known Use

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near wool

Cite this Entry

“Wool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wool. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wool

noun
1
: the soft wavy or curly usually thick undercoat of various mammals and especially the sheep
2
: a fabric or garment made of wool
3
: material that resembles a mass of wool
wooled
ˈwu̇ld
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on wool

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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