Word
yarn
US/ˈjɑɹn/
UK/jˈɑːn/
In Japanese
thread; yarn; string
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Definitions
01knitting thread
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a long, thin thread made of wool, cotton, or other fibres used for knitting or weaving.
n. a continuous strand of twisted natural or synthetic fibres used in weaving, knitting, or textile production.
“She bought three balls of soft blue yarn to knit a sweater for her nephew.”
“The weaver selected a high-quality wool yarn, noting that its consistent tension would prevent the fabric from warping during the finishing process.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the material in general; countable when referring to specific types or balls of thread.
02a long story
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. a long and exciting story, especially one that is hard to believe.
n. a long, often improbable or exaggerated narrative, frequently associated with sailors or travellers.
“The old sailor spent the whole evening spinning a yarn about a giant sea monster.”
“After a few drinks, he began to spin a tall yarn about his supposed adventures in the merchant navy during the late sixties.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verb 'spin' (to spin a yarn).
Teaching tip
This sense is often used with a slightly humorous or skeptical tone, implying the story might be made up.
03rope component
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. the smaller threads that are twisted together to make a thick rope.
n. one of the strands of fibres that are twisted together to form a larger rope or cable.
“The rope was weak because several of the internal yarns had started to rot.”
“In traditional rope-making, multiple yarns are twisted into strands, which are then laid together to provide the necessary tensile strength.”
Real-World Examples
“Lyubov thinks back to when she used to ride her bike across the border into Ukraine to shop for sausages, yarn and ice cream.” Etymology
From Middle English yarne, ȝern, yarn, from the Old English ġearn (“yarn, spun wool”), from Proto-West Germanic garn, from Proto-Germanic garną (“yarn”), from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰorn-, ǵʰerH- (“tharm, guts, intestines”). Cognates Akin to West Frisian jern, Dutch garen (“yarn”), German Garn (“yarn”), Danish garn, Swedish garn (“yarn, thread”), Icelandic garn (“yarn”), Latin hernia (“rupture”), Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, “string”), Sanskrit हिर (hira, “band”). Compare also the obsolete doublet garn.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. spin a yarn
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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