noun
Mantua
MAN-too-uh
Mantua (noun) means a loose, elegant gown worn by women in 17th- and 18th-century Europe. Example: “The portrait showed her in a flowing silk mantua, fashionable for the era.”
noun
1
A loose, elegant gown worn by women in 17th- and 18th-century Europe.
"The portrait showed her in a flowing silk mantua, fashionable for the era."
2
A fine silk fabric once made in the Italian city of Mantua.
"The curtains were said to be cut from genuine mantua imported from Italy."
How to use Mantua
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical term for a style of women's dress and the luxury fabric associated with it — you'll mostly meet this word in costume history or period fiction.
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Word forms
- Plural
- mantuas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The portrait showed her in a flowing silk _____, fashionable for the era.
Etymology
Named after Mantua, the Italian city once famous for producing this type of silk; the dress style later took the same name.
Rhymes for Mantua
See all rhymes for Mantua →Frequently asked questions
What does “Mantua” mean?
The word “Mantua” means a loose, elegant gown worn by women in 17th- and 18th-century Europe. In plain terms, a historical term for a style of women's dress and the luxury fabric associated with it — you'll mostly meet this word in costume history or period fiction.
How do you pronounce “Mantua”?
“Mantua” is pronounced MAN-too-uh (/ˈmæn.t(j)u.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Mantua” in a sentence?
Here is “Mantua” used in a sentence: “The portrait showed her in a flowing silk mantua, fashionable for the era.”
What part of speech is “Mantua”?
“Mantua” is a noun.
Where does the word “Mantua” come from?
The word “Mantua” comes from Italian. Named after Mantua, the Italian city once famous for producing this type of silk; the dress style later took the same name.
How many meanings does “Mantua” have?
“Mantua” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a loose, elegant gown worn by women in 17th- and 18th-century Europe.
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