silk
[ silk ]
/ sɪlk /
noun
adjective
verb (used without object)
(of corn) to be in the course of developing silk.
Idioms for silk
hit the silk, Slang.
to parachute from an aircraft; bail out.
take silk, British.
to become a Queen's or King's Counsel.
Origin of silk
before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English
sioloc, seol(o)c (cognate with Old Norse
silki), by uncertain transmission < Greek
sērikón silk, noun use of neuter of
sērikós silken, literally, Chinese, derivative of
Sêres the Chinese (Russian
shëlk, OPruss
silkas (genitive) “silk” appear to be < Gmc); cf.
seric-
OTHER WORDS FROM silk
silk·like, adjective half-silk, adjectiveWords nearby silk
Example sentences from the Web for silk
British Dictionary definitions for silk
silk
/ (sɪlk) /
noun
verb
(intr) US and Canadian
(of maize) to develop long hairlike styles
Derived forms of silk
silklike, adjectiveWord Origin for silk
Old English
sioluc; compare Old Norse
silki, Greek
sērikon, Korean
sir; all ultimately from Chinese
ssǔ silk
Scientific definitions for silk
silk
[ sĭlk ]
A fiber produced by silkworms to form cocoons. Silk is strong, flexible, and fibrous, and is essentially a long continuous strand of protein. It is widely used to make thread and fabric.
A substance similar to the silk of the silkworm but produced by other insect larvae or by spiders to spin webs.
Idioms and Phrases with silk
silk
see can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear; smooth as silk.