# silken

/ˈsɪɫkən/ (US) · /sˈɪlkən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/silken
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

soft and smooth like silk, or made from silk. You use it for hair, skin, or cloth that feels very smooth.

For teachers: Made of silk or having a smooth, soft, lustrous texture resembling silk. Often applied to hair, fabric, or skin to suggest luxury or delicacy.

## Examples

- She wears a silken scarf around her neck.
- The hotel advertises silken sheets that stay cool through the night.
- In the late light, the lake took on a silken surface that blurred the line between water and sky.

## Synonyms

silky, smooth, soft, sleek, velvety, satiny

## Antonyms

rough, coarse

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies.

---

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.