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, adjective

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, adjective

Word 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.