# texture

/ˈtɛkstʃɝ/ (US) · /tˈɛkstʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/texture
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. physical feel

noun · CEFR B2

the way a surface or substance feels when you touch it, such as being smooth, rough, or soft.

For teachers: the tactile quality of a surface or substance, determined by its physical composition and finish.

- The smooth texture of the silk felt very comfortable against her skin.
- The chef experimented with contrasting textures, pairing a crunchy nut topping with a smooth, velvety chocolate mousse.

### 2. artistic composition

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the way different parts of a piece of art, music, or writing are put together.

For teachers: the quality of a creative work resulting from the interaction and arrangement of its constituent elements.

- The director used different sounds to create a rich texture in the play.
- The composer achieved a dense orchestral texture by layering woodwind melodies over a complex rhythmic foundation in the lower strings.

### 3. digital surface

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a digital image used to cover a 3D shape to make it look like a real surface.

For teachers: a digital image or bitmap applied to the surface of a three-dimensional graphical model to simulate detail and material properties.

- The game looks realistic because the stone walls have a detailed texture.
- The lead artist spent weeks refining the skin textures to ensure the character models appeared lifelike under various lighting conditions.

### 5. intense or satisfying

adjective · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

having a very strong or interesting feel that makes you react.

For teachers: possessing a highly pronounced or aesthetically pleasing physical quality; often used to describe something with high sensory impact.

- That new rug is so texture, I could sit on it all day.
- The experimental fashion line was incredibly texture, featuring heavy knits and jagged plastic elements that challenged traditional ideas of comfort.

## Examples

- The smooth texture of the silk felt nice.
- The chef added toasted nuts to the salad to provide a crunchy texture that contrasted with the soft cheese.
- Geologists examine the crystalline texture of the rock to determine the cooling rate of the magma from which it originally formed.

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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.