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noun Uncommon

satin

SAT-ihn

Satin (noun) means a smooth fabric, woven from silk or a similar fiber, that has a glossy front and a dull back. Example: “The bride wore a gown made of ivory satin.”

noun
1
A smooth fabric, woven from silk or a similar fiber, that has a glossy front and a dull back.
"The bride wore a gown made of ivory satin."
"The pillowcase was made of cool, slippery satin."
adj
1
Having a smooth, semi-glossy sheen similar to satin fabric.
"She chose a satin finish paint for the walls."

How to use satin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA glossy, smooth fabric, or a finish that looks similarly smooth and lightly shiny.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
satin sheets satin finish a satin dress

Word forms

satined past tense, satins plural, satins singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The bride wore a gown made of ivory _____.

Etymology

From French satin, itself traced back to "Zaitun," the old Arabic name for the Chinese port city of Quanzhou, from where the fabric was originally exported to Europe.

Origin: French

Rhymes for satin

See all rhymes for satin →

Frequently asked questions

What does “satin” mean?

The word “satin” means a smooth fabric, woven from silk or a similar fiber, that has a glossy front and a dull back. In plain terms, a glossy, smooth fabric, or a finish that looks similarly smooth and lightly shiny.

How do you pronounce “satin”?

“Satin” is pronounced SAT-ihn (/ˈsæt.ɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “satin” in a sentence?

Here is “satin” used in a sentence: “The bride wore a gown made of ivory satin.”

What part of speech is “satin”?

Depending on how it is used, “satin” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “satin” come from?

The word “satin” comes from French. From French satin, itself traced back to "Zaitun," the old Arabic name for the Chinese port city of Quanzhou, from where the fabric was originally exported to Europe.

Is “satin” a common word?

“Satin” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “satin” have?

“Satin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a smooth fabric, woven from silk or a similar fiber, that has a glossy front and a dull back.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial