textile
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.any type of cloth or fabric made from fibres, like cotton or wool.
n.a material made of interlacing or matted fibres, typically used for clothing, upholstery, or industrial purposes.
Simple“The museum has a beautiful collection of ancient textiles from South America.”
In context“The region's economy relies heavily on the export of high-quality textiles, particularly organic cotton and silk blends.”
UsageOften used in the plural form 'textiles' when referring to the industry or a collection of materials.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.related to making cloth or the industry that produces it.
adj.relating to the manufacture of cloth or the properties of fabrics.
Simple“She is studying textile design at a famous art college in London.”
In context“The textile industry has faced significant pressure to adopt more sustainable production methods to reduce water pollution.”
UsageUsually appears before a noun.
Synonymsfabric related - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a person who wears clothes at a beach or park where others are naked.
n.a person who wears clothing in a nudist or naturist environment.
Simple“The private beach was mostly for naturists, but a few textiles were walking along the shore.”
In context“The resort policy was strictly clothing-optional, though the long-term members often felt uncomfortable when groups of textiles visited for the day.”
Teacher's tipThis is a very niche slang term used specifically within the nudist community; most English speakers will not know this meaning.
Synonymsclothed personAntonymsnudistnaturist
Borrowed from Latin textile, substantive use of textilis (“woven”), from texō (“weave”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.