noun
calico
KA-lih-koh
Calico (noun) means a plain, inexpensive cotton fabric, often printed with a simple pattern. Example: “She made curtains out of a cheerful floral calico.”
noun
1
A plain, inexpensive cotton fabric, often printed with a simple pattern.
"She made curtains out of a cheerful floral calico."
adj
1
Having patches of different colors, especially describing a cat's coat.
"They adopted a calico cat with patches of orange, black, and white."
How to use calico
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA type of cotton cloth, or, describing an animal, having a multicolored patchy coat.
Common pairings
calico cat
calico print
calico fabric
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Etymology
Named after Calicut (Kozhikode), the Indian port city from which the cloth was originally exported to Europe.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for calico
See all rhymes for calico →Frequently asked questions
What does “calico” mean?
The word “calico” means a plain, inexpensive cotton fabric, often printed with a simple pattern. In plain terms, a type of cotton cloth, or, describing an animal, having a multicolored patchy coat.
How do you pronounce “calico”?
“Calico” is pronounced KA-lih-koh (/ˈkæ.lɪ.koʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “calico” in a sentence?
Here is “calico” used in a sentence: “She made curtains out of a cheerful floral calico.”
What part of speech is “calico”?
Depending on how it is used, “calico” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “calico” have?
“Calico” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plain, inexpensive cotton fabric, often printed with a simple pattern.
