# burlap

/ˈbɝˌɫæp/ (US) · /bˈɜːlæp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/burlap
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. coarse fabric

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a strong, rough, brown cloth made from plants like jute, often used to make large bags for potatoes or coffee.

For teachers: a coarse, durable, plain-woven textile made from jute, flax, or hemp fibres, primarily used for sacks and upholstery.

- The farmer filled the burlap sacks with fresh potatoes from the field.
- The interior designer chose a refined burlap for the wall coverings to introduce a rustic, organic texture to the modern office space.

Usage: Commonly functions as an uncountable noun for the material or a countable noun for the sacks themselves.

Teaching tip: In British English, this material is almost always called 'hessian'.

### 2. to wrap in cloth

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · American English

to cover or wrap something using this rough cloth.

For teachers: to wrap, cover, or protect an object using burlap fabric.

- We need to burlap the young trees to protect them from the winter frost.
- The landscaping crew spent the afternoon burlapping the root balls of the newly arrived saplings to ensure they remained moist during transport.

Usage: This transitive verb is primarily used in gardening, landscaping, and industrial shipping contexts.

## Examples

- The farmer used burlap to make a bag for the potatoes.
- During the winter, the gardener wrapped the young trees in burlap to protect them from the cold wind.
- The heavy sacks of grain were transported across the desert on camel backs, their rough burlap surfaces providing enough friction to prevent the cargo from shifting during the journey.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.