noun
Uncommon
yarn
yahn
Yarn (noun) means Spun fibre thread used for knitting, weaving, or making rope. Example: “She bought several skeins of wool yarn to knit a scarf.”
noun
1
Spun fibre thread used for knitting, weaving, or making rope.
"She bought several skeins of wool yarn to knit a scarf."
2
A long, often exaggerated story.
"The old sailor spun a yarn about a storm that nearly sank the ship."
verb
1
To tell a long or unlikely story.
"The two of them sat by the fire, yarning about their travels."
How to use yarn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither thread for knitting/weaving, or an entertaining (and often stretched) story.
Common pairings
spin a yarn
ball of yarn
knitting yarn
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Word forms
- Plural
- yarns
- Third person singular
- yarns
- Past tense
- yarned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She bought several skeins of wool _____ to knit a scarf.
Etymology
From Old English ġearn ("spun wool"), an ancient Germanic word for spun fibre; the "tall tale" sense grew out of sailors literally spinning yarn while telling stories on long voyages.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “yarn” mean?
The word “yarn” means spun fibre thread used for knitting, weaving, or making rope. In plain terms, either thread for knitting/weaving, or an entertaining (and often stretched) story.
How do you pronounce “yarn”?
“Yarn” is pronounced yahn (/jɑɹn/ in IPA).
How do you use “yarn” in a sentence?
Here is “yarn” used in a sentence: “She bought several skeins of wool yarn to knit a scarf.”
What part of speech is “yarn”?
Depending on how it is used, “yarn” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “yarn” come from?
The word “yarn” comes from Old English. From Old English ġearn ("spun wool"), an ancient Germanic word for spun fibre; the "tall tale" sense grew out of sailors literally spinning yarn while telling stories on long voyages.
Is “yarn” a common word?
“Yarn” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “yarn” have?
“Yarn” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: spun fibre thread used for knitting, weaving, or making rope.
What is the difference between "yarn" and "thread"?
"Yarn" is spun fibre used for knitting, weaving, or making rope, and is generally thicker and more loosely twisted than "thread," which is typically fine strands used for sewing. Yarn's bulk makes it suited to crafts like knitting, while thread is used to join fabric.
What does it mean to "spin a yarn"?
To "spin a yarn" means to tell a long, often exaggerated or unlikely story, drawing on the noun sense of "yarn" as a tall tale. The phrase can also be expressed as a verb, "to yarn," meaning to tell such a story.
Is "yarn" used the same way in craft contexts and storytelling contexts?
No, the two uses of "yarn" are distinct senses of the same word: one refers to spun fibre thread for crafts like knitting and weaving, and the other refers to a long, exaggerated story. Context usually makes clear which meaning is intended.
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