ENGLISH
REFERENCE

chiffon

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ʃɪˈfɑn// UK //tʃˈɪfən// chif·fon

n. a very light and soft fabric that is often used for making dresses and blouses. It feels like silk but is usually made from a synthetic material.

n. a lightweight, plain-weave fabric made from silk or synthetic fibers, characterized by a soft, slightly crinkled texture. Often used in the construction of evening gowns and blouses.


SIMPLE

She wore a beautiful chiffon dress to the wedding.

CONTEXTUAL

The designer chose chiffon for the skirt because it moves gracefully and catches the light.

COMPLEX

While traditionally crafted from silk, modern chiffon is frequently produced from polyester or nylon to maintain its delicate appearance at a lower cost and with greater durability.

Origin

Borrowed from French chiffon, from Middle French chiffe (“cloth, old rag”), from Old French chipe (“rag”), from Middle English chip, chippe (“chip, shard, fragment”), from Old English ċipp (“chip, splinter, shaving”); see chip.

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