noun B1 Intermediate Common

silk

sihlk

Silk (noun) means a fine, soft fiber produced by silkworms, or fabric woven from it. Example: “The dress was made of pure silk and felt cool against her skin.”

noun

A fine, soft fiber produced by silkworms, or fabric woven from it.

"The dress was made of pure silk and felt cool against her skin."

"Spiders spin silk far stronger, ounce for ounce, than steel."

(British law, informal) A Queen's or King's Counsel, or the gown they wear.

"After twenty years at the bar, she finally took silk."

How to use silk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA smooth, shiny fabric made from fibers spun by silkworms.

When to use it

"Take silk" is a specifically British legal idiom meaning to be appointed a senior barrister (KC/QC).

Common pairings

pure silk silk dress take silk spider silk

Word forms

silked past tense, silks plural, Silks plural, silks singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The dress was made of pure _____ and felt cool against her skin.

Etymology

From Old English seolc, probably borrowed via early Baltic trade routes, ultimately tracing back through Latin and Greek to an East Asian source — the same root that gives us "China" as a byword for fine goods.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for silk

ilk milk Wilk

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Frequently asked questions

What does “silk” mean?

The word “silk” means a fine, soft fiber produced by silkworms, or fabric woven from it. In plain terms, a smooth, shiny fabric made from fibers spun by silkworms.

How do you pronounce “silk”?

“Silk” is pronounced sihlk (/sɪlk/ in IPA).

How do you use “silk” in a sentence?

Here is “silk” used in a sentence: “The dress was made of pure silk and felt cool against her skin.”

What part of speech is “silk”?

“Silk” is a noun.

Where does the word “silk” come from?

The word “silk” comes from Latin. From Old English seolc, probably borrowed via early Baltic trade routes, ultimately tracing back through Latin and Greek to an East Asian source — the same root that gives us "China" as a byword for fine goods.

Is “silk” a common word?

“Silk” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “silk” have?

“Silk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fine, soft fiber produced by silkworms, or fabric woven from it.

What is the difference between silk and satin?

Silk is a natural fibre produced by silkworms and the fabric woven from it. Satin, by contrast, refers to a type of weave that gives fabric a glossy surface, and it can be made from silk or from synthetic fibres such as polyester. So all silk is a fibre, but not all satin is silk.

What is the difference between silk and wool?

Both are natural fibres, but silk is produced by silkworms and is smooth, lightweight, and lustrous, while wool comes from sheep and similar animals and is thicker and warmer. Silk is prized for its softness and sheen, whereas wool is valued mainly for insulation.

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Words that end with K