# terry

/ˈtɛɹi/ (US) · /tˈɛɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/terry
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. towel fabric

noun · CEFR B2

a thick, soft cotton cloth with tiny loops that soak up water well.

For teachers: a cotton fabric with raised loops on both sides, valued for its high absorbency in domestic textiles.

- She wrapped herself in a thick terry bathrobe after her shower.
- The manufacturer opted for a high-density terry weave to ensure the hotel's towels remained plush after repeated industrial laundering.

### 2. cloth diaper

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Dialect

a traditional baby diaper made from a square of soft, absorbent cloth.

For teachers: a traditional square of absorbent fabric folded and fastened to serve as a reusable nappy.

- Before disposable ones were common, most parents used terry nappies for their babies.
- The environmental benefits of using traditional terry squares are often weighed against the significant time required for washing and drying them.

Usage: Often used as a modifier, as in 'terry nappy'.

### 3. slang for terrorist

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Humorous

a slang word for a terrorist, often used by soldiers or in action movies.

For teachers: a slang term for a terrorist, typically employed within military or law enforcement subcultures.

- The soldiers joked about spotting a terry near the border.
- The dialogue in the action thriller was criticized for its heavy use of 'terry' as a dehumanizing shorthand for the antagonists.

## Examples

- She wrapped herself in a soft terry bathrobe after her shower.
- The hotel provides thick terry towels for guests to use at the poolside.
- The manufacturer switched to a heavier weight of terry cloth to ensure their luxury line of bath linens remained plush even after multiple industrial wash cycles.

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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.