English Explanatory Dictionary

satin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A cloth woven from silk, nylon or polyester with a glossy surface and a dull back. (The same weaving technique applied to cotton produces cloth termed sateen).
  2. Gin (the drink).
adj
  1. Semigloss.
verb
  1. To make (paper, silver, etc.) smooth and glossy like satin.

Pronunciation

/ˈsæt.ɪn/ [ˈsæt.n̩] [ˈsæʔ.n̩] en-us-satin.ogg

Word forms

satin satins satining satined

Etymology

From French satin, which is derived from "Zaitun", the Arabic name for the Chinese city of Quanzhou, itself derived from Arabic زَيْتُون (zaytūn, “Zayton; olive”), from phono-semantic matching from Chinese 刺桐 (MC tshjeH duwng, “coral tree”) in 刺桐城 (MC tshjeH duwng dzyeng, “coral tree town”), an old name for Quanzhou.

Related words

sateen

Derived words

antique satin Denmark satin farmers' satin satinash satin bowerbird satin carpet satin damask satin de chine satin de laine satinet satinette satinflower satin flycatcher satin glass satinize satin jean satinleaf satinlike satin paper satinpod satin sheeting satin spar satin stitch satin stone satin weave satinwood satiny slipper satin surf satin white satin yard of satin
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