noun
linen
LIH-nihn
noun
1
A strong, cool fabric woven from flax fibers.
"She wore a crisp linen shirt in the summer heat."
2
Household textiles such as sheets, tablecloths, and towels, whether or not actually made of linen.
"They changed the linen on the guest bed before visitors arrived."
adj
1
Made of linen, or having its pale beige color.
"He wore a linen suit for the wedding."
How to Use Linen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe fabric made from flax, or bed/table textiles generally.
Common pairings
linen sheets
linen closet
change the linen
Word Forms
linens plural, Linens plural
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Etymology
From Old English linen ("made of flax"), from a Germanic root tied to flax, the plant linen is woven from — the same root gives us the word line.