name
Common
Orleans
AW-lee-uhnz
Orleans (name) means a historic city in north-central France, the capital of the Loiret department, on the Loire river. Example: “Joan of Arc famously lifted the siege of Orleans in 1429.”
name
1
A historic city in north-central France, the capital of the Loiret department, on the Loire river.
"Joan of Arc famously lifted the siege of Orleans in 1429."
"They took the train south from Paris to Orleans for the weekend."
noun
1
A coarse fabric woven from wool and cotton, once common for everyday clothing.
"Her old work dress was made of plain orleans cloth."
How to use Orleans
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA city in France, and also an old name for a cotton-wool blend fabric.
Easily confused with
orlean
orleanist
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Word forms
- Plural
- Orleanses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Joan of Arc famously lifted the siege of _____ in 1429.
Etymology
From French Orléans, tracing back to Latin Aurelianum, named for the Roman emperor Aurelian who had the city rebuilt.
Rhymes for Orleans
See all rhymes for Orleans →Frequently asked questions
What does “Orleans” mean?
The word “Orleans” means a historic city in north-central France, the capital of the Loiret department, on the Loire river. In plain terms, a city in France, and also an old name for a cotton-wool blend fabric.
How do you pronounce “Orleans”?
“Orleans” is pronounced AW-lee-uhnz (/ˈɔɹ.li.ənz/ in IPA).
How do you use “Orleans” in a sentence?
Here is “Orleans” used in a sentence: “Joan of Arc famously lifted the siege of Orleans in 1429.”
What part of speech is “Orleans”?
Depending on how it is used, “Orleans” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Orleans” come from?
The word “Orleans” comes from Latin. From French Orléans, tracing back to Latin Aurelianum, named for the Roman emperor Aurelian who had the city rebuilt.
Is “Orleans” a common word?
“Orleans” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Orleans” have?
“Orleans” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a historic city in north-central France, the capital of the Loiret department, on the Loire river.
What is the difference between Orleans and New Orleans?
Orleans is a historic city in north-central France, situated on the Loire river and serving as the capital of the Loiret department. New Orleans is a separate, much larger city in the U.S. state of Louisiana; it was named after the French city but is not the same place.
Is Orleans also the name of a fabric?
Yes. Besides the French city, 'orleans' is a coarse fabric woven from wool and cotton that was once common for everyday clothing. This older textile sense is now rarely used in everyday speech.
Which river is the city of Orleans on?
The French city of Orleans sits on the Loire, France's longest river. Its riverside location made it an important historic crossing and trading point in north-central France.
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