Word
muslin
US/ˈməzɫən/
UK/mˈʌslɪn/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a light, thin cotton cloth used for clothes, curtains, or straining food in cooking. You can see through it a little because the weave is very loose.
n. a lightweight, plain-woven cotton fabric with an open, gauzy texture. It serves for dressmaking prototypes, curtains, and culinary straining.
Examples
“She wraps the cheese in soft muslin.”
“The tailor makes a test dress from muslin before cutting the expensive silk.”
“Sunlight filtered through the worn muslin curtains, softening the harsh edges of the attic room and filling it with a pale golden glow.”
Examples
simple
“She wraps the cheese in soft muslin.”
contextual
“The tailor makes a test dress from muslin before cutting the expensive silk.”
complex
“Sunlight filtered through the worn muslin curtains, softening the harsh edges of the attic room and filling it with a pale golden glow.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “muslin” in context.
Verb
01. drape muslin
“She draped muslin over the chairs to protect them from dust.”
verb + noun
02. dye muslin
“They dyed muslin indigo to make lightweight scarves for summer.”
verb + noun
03. line with muslin
“Line the basket with muslin before filling it with fresh bread.”
verb + prep + noun
04. muslin breathes
“Cotton muslin breathes well, so it keeps the baby cool at night.”
noun + verb
05. muslin filters
“The muslin filters out small seeds while letting the juice pass through.”
noun + verb
06. muslin hangs
“The muslin hangs loosely from the ceiling, creating a soft canopy.”
noun + verb
Adjective
07. fine muslin
“The cheese was wrapped in fine muslin to allow it to breathe while ageing.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. layer of muslin
“Place a damp layer of muslin over the dough as it rises.”
noun + prep + noun
09. length of muslin
“She bought a length of muslin to sew simple summer curtains.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a length of muslin
“I bought a length of muslin to make curtains for the studio.”
11. curtains made of muslin
“Light curtains made of muslin brightened the small bedroom.”
12. line with unbleached muslin
“Line the mould with unbleached muslin before adding the cheese.”
Real-World Examples
“I used a one-gallon (3.8 litre) jar, a large elastic band, and a piece of muslin or cheesecloth that is big enough to cover the jar opening.” “As European fashion became less formal in the late 1700s, imported muslin became a status symbol among upper-class women who had previously worn structured, voluminous gowns of costly silk.” Etymology
From French mousseline, from Italian mussolina, from Mussolo (“Mosul”), that is Mosul in northern Iraq (compare 1875 Knight, Edward H., Knight's American Mechanical Dictionary, V2 p1502: "Muslins are so called from Moussol in India."). Doublet of mousseline.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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