ENGLISH
REFERENCE

handkerchief

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhæŋkɝtʃif// UK //hˈændkətʃˌiːf// hand·ker·chief

n. a small square of cloth used for blowing your nose or wiping your face. You usually keep it in your pocket or bag.

n. a square piece of fabric, typically cotton or linen, intended for personal hygiene or as a clothing accessory. Often contrasted with disposable paper tissues.


SIMPLE

He pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket.

CONTEXTUAL

She offered her silk handkerchief to her friend, who was crying after the movie.

COMPLEX

While paper tissues have largely replaced the traditional cloth handkerchief for hygiene, it remains a staple of formal menswear as a decorative pocket square.

Synonyms
Origin

From hand + kerchief.

Usage

The plural can be spelled as either 'handkerchiefs' or 'handkerchieves', though the former is more common in modern English.

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