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

A plain, inexpensive cotton fabric, often printed with a simple pattern.

"She made curtains out of a cheerful floral calico."

adj

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 notes

In 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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She made curtains out of a cheerful floral _____.

Etymology

Named after Calicut (Kozhikode), the Indian port city from which the cloth was originally exported to Europe.

Rhymes for calico

Pico Nico Rico Tico Vico chico Enrico portico Serpico Federico Quantico magnifico

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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.