# muslin

/ˈməzɫən/ (US) · /mˈʌslɪn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/muslin
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Synonyms

cheesecloth

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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.