terry

The word “terry” means a looped cotton fabric used for towels and bathrobes because it soaks up water well. In plain terms, the soft, loopy fabric towels are made from.

“Terry” is pronounced TEH-ree (/ˈtɛɹi/ in IPA).

Here is “terry” used in a sentence: “The hotel bathrobes were made of thick white terry.”

Words with a similar meaning to “terry” include terrycloth and terry cloth.

“Terry” is a noun.

The word “terry” comes from French. Origin uncertain, but likely from French tiré, "drawn out" — describing how the loops are pulled up from the base weave during manufacture.

“Terry” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Terry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a looped cotton fabric used for towels and bathrobes because it soaks up water well.

There is no difference in meaning; they are just two accepted spellings of the same material. "Terry," "terry cloth," and "terrycloth" all refer to the looped cotton fabric used for towels and bathrobes because it soaks up water well.

Terry fabric is made with many small loops of cotton thread, which greatly increase its surface area. This lets it absorb a lot of water quickly, which is why it is chosen for towels, bathrobes, and flannels.

A "terry nappy" (or terry diaper) is a reusable cloth nappy made from a square of absorbent terry fabric that is folded and fastened, traditionally with a pin. It relies on terry's high absorbency and can be washed and used again.

Capitalised, "Terry" is a given name used for people. Lowercase, "terry" is the looped cotton fabric used for towels and nappies. Context and the capital letter usually make clear which one is meant.