dictionary definitions for "linen"


From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:

  linen
      n 1: a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
      2: a high-quality paper made of linen fibers or with a linen
         finish [syn: linen paper]
      3: white goods or clothing made with linen cloth

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Linen \Lin"en\ (l[i^]n"[e^]n), a. [OE., fr. lin linen. See
     Linen, n.]
     1. Made of linen; as, linen cloth; a linen stocking.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Resembling linen cloth; white; pale.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Linen \Lin"en\, n. [Prop. an adj. from OE. lin flax, AS.
     l[imac]n flax, whence l[imac]nen made of flax; akin to OS.,
     Icel., & MHG. l[imac]n flax and linen, G. lein, leinen,
     linen, Sw. lin flax, Goth. lein linen, L. linum flax, linen,
     Gr. li`non. Cf. Line, Linseed.]
     1. Thread or cloth made of flax or (rarely) of hemp; -- used
        in a general sense to include cambric, shirting, sheeting,
        towels, tablecloths, etc.; as, bed linens "In linen white
        as milk." --Robert of Brunne.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Underclothing, esp. the shirt, as being, in former times,
        chiefly made of linen.
        [1913 Webster]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Linen draper, a dealer in linen.
  
     Linen prover, a small microscope for counting the threads
        in a given space in linen fabrics.
  
     Linen scroll, Linen pattern (Arch.), an ornament for
        filling panels, copied from the folds of a piece of stuff
        symmetrically disposed.
        [1913 Webster]


online dictionary by shmop.net