cloth
cloth
Pronunciation
British English (RP): /klɒθ/
/k/: a voiceless velar stop, as in "cat"
/l/: a voiced lateral approximant, as in "light"
/ɒ/: a short, open-mid back rounded vowel, as in "pot" or "lot"
/θ/: a voiceless dental fricative, as in "thin" or "think"
General American: /klɔθ/ or /klɑθ/
/k/: a voiceless velar stop, as in "cat"
/l/: a voiced lateral approximant, as in "light"
/ɔθ/: (for /klɔθ/) a mid-back rounded vowel, similar to the vowel in "caught" or "thought" (for some speakers)
/ɑθ/: (for /klɑθ/, especially with the cot-caught merger) an open back unrounded vowel, similar to the vowel in "father" or "car"
/θ/: a voiceless dental fricative, as in "thin" or "think"
Word Form Variations
1. Noun:
Singular: cloth (refers to a type of fabric or material)
Example: "She bought a beautiful cloth for the tablecloth."
Plural: cloths (refers to multiple pieces of fabric or specific types of cleaning cloths)
Example: "He used several cloths to wipe down the counter."
Important distinction: "Cloths" is not the plural of "clothes" (garments).
2. Related Noun (often confused):
clothes (always plural, refers to garments worn on the body)
Example: "She hung her clothes in the closet."
Note: There is no singular form "clothe" when referring to garments. You would say "a piece of clothing" or "an article of clothing."
3. Verb:
clothe (means to dress someone or provide with clothes)
Present Tense:
I/you/we/they clothe
He/she/it clothes
Past Tense: clothed (or clad, which is more formal/literary)
Example: "They clothed their children warmly for winter."
Present Participle: clothing
Example: "The charity is dedicated to clothing the homeless."
Past Participle: clothed (or clad)
Example: "He was clothed in a suit."
4. Adjective:
clothed (derived from the past participle of "clothe"; means dressed or covered with cloth)
Example: "He jumped fully clothed into the pool."
Example: "The hills were clothed in green vegetation."
cloth (can be used attributively to describe something made of cloth)
Example: "a cloth bag," "a cloth doll"
5. Adverb:
There isn't a direct adverbial form of "cloth." To express something in an adverbial way related to "cloth," you would typically use a phrase (e.g., "made of cloth," "like cloth").
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A woven or felted material made from natural or synthetic fibers, used for making garments, coverings, and various other articles.
Example: She carefully selected a soft, patterned cloth to reupholster the old armchair.
Synonyms: fabric, textile, material, weave, stuff, bolt
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a type of material. One could consider "raw fiber" or "yarn" as stages before cloth, but not opposites.)
Definition 2: A small piece of fabric, often absorbent, used for cleaning, washing, or wiping.
Example: He grabbed a damp cloth to wipe the spilled coffee from the table.
Synonyms: rag, wipe, duster, dishtowel, washcloth, cleaning rag
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms. Perhaps "dirty cloth" as an opposite state, but not an opposite type of item.)
Adjective
Definition 1: Made of cloth; constructed from woven or felted material rather than, for example, metal, wood, or plastic.
Example: The children played with a soft cloth doll instead of a hard plastic one.
Synonyms: fabric, textile, woven, material
Antonyms: plastic, metal, wooden, ceramic, glass (referring to materials that are not cloth)
Related Word Forms (often associated with "cloth" but distinct)
Verb (Clothe)
Definition 1: To provide with clothing; to dress someone.
Example: The charity's mission is to feed and clothe the needy in the community.
Synonyms: dress, attire, garb, array, outfit, habit, vest
Antonyms: unclothe, undress, strip, divest, disrobe
Definition 2: To cover or envelop something as if with clothing.
Example: The autumn mist began to clothe the hills in a soft, grey shroud.
Synonyms: cover, envelop, shroud, blanket, cloak, drape
Antonyms: uncover, reveal, expose, bare, unveil
Adjective (Clothed)
Definition 1: Dressed in clothes; having clothing on.
Example: He emerged from the changing room fully clothed, ready for the party.
Synonyms: dressed, attired, garbed, robed, covered
Antonyms: unclothed, naked, bare, undressed, nude, stripped
Definition 2: Covered or enveloped by something, as if by clothing.
Example: The ancient ruins were largely clothed in ivy, giving them a mysterious appearance.
Synonyms: covered, enveloped, shrouded, draped, blanketed
Antonyms: uncovered, exposed, bare, revealed
Noun (Clothes - always plural)
Definition 1: Articles of personal apparel; garments worn on the body.
Example: She packed a suitcase full of clean clothes for her trip.
Synonyms: garments, attire, apparel, wear, outfits, threads (informal), duds (informal)
Antonyms: (No direct antonym, as it refers to a category of items. "Nudity" could be considered an opposite state, but not an opposite category of items.)
Examples of Use
1. Books:
"She wore a simple linen cloth dress, perfectly suited to the warm climate." (Fictional novel, author's internal narration)
"The historical text detailed the intricate weaving techniques used to produce fine silk cloth for the emperor." (Non-fiction history book)
2. Newspapers:
"The local textile industry is struggling to compete with cheaper imported cloth." (Daily Nation, Business Section)
"Police forensics found remnants of a specific type of cloth at the crime scene, aiding their investigation." (The New York Times, Crime Report)
3. Online Publications:
"How to Choose the Right Microfiber Cloth for Streak-Free Cleaning" (Wirecutter, an online product review site)
"Fashion designers are increasingly experimenting with sustainable cloth alternatives like bamboo and organic cotton." (Vogue online, Fashion News)
4. Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film Dialogue: "He handed her a small, white cloth to wipe her tears." (Dialogue from a romantic drama film)
TV Show Narration: "The ancient Egyptians used vast amounts of linen cloth for mummification rituals." (Narration from a documentary on ancient civilizations, e.g., National Geographic)
Song Lyrics: "Underneath the velvet cloth, a secret waits for me." (Lyric from an indie folk song)
Video Game Item Description: "Tattered Cloth Armor: Offers minimal protection but is lightweight." (Item description in a role-playing video game like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
5. General Public Discourse:
Everyday Conversation: "Could you pass me a dish cloth? I've spilled some water." (Casual conversation at home)
Public Announcements/Instructions: "Please use a damp cloth to clean the surface of the playground equipment." (Sign in a public park)
Retail/Shopping: "This shirt is made from a very soft cotton cloth." (Sales associate describing an item to a customer)
DIY Advice: "You'll need a clean cloth and some rubbing alcohol to prep the surface before painting." (Online DIY tutorial video or blog post)
10 Famous Quotes Using Cloth
"The cloth of life is woven of many threads." (Common proverb, attribution uncertain)
"Judge not, that ye be not judged... and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." (From the Bible, Matthew 7:1-2, where a related phrase "with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" often inspires the idea of "cutting your own cloth" or reciprocity.)
"He who is not clothed in his own dignity will always feel naked." (Seneca the Younger)
"We are all clothed in a little brief authority." (William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure)
"Every man's clothes are a letter of introduction." (Charles Dickens, Great Expectations)
"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." (Proverb, implying that fine material or quality cannot be made from poor cloth or origins.)
"Charity begins at home." (Proverb, often related to the idea of "cutting your cloth" according to your means and priorities.)
"Man makes cloth, and cloth makes man." (Proverb, highlighting the transformative power of clothing.)
"No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path." (Attributed to Buddha, metaphorically relating to the idea that one must "cut their own cloth" or forge their own destiny.)
"The cloth of society is dyed by the actions of its individuals." (Original quote, emphasizing collective impact)
Etymology
The word "cloth" has a long history, going back to the very roots of the English language.
Imagine the earliest Germanic people creating simple woven materials. The word "cloth" comes from an old Germanic word, *klaiþą, which meant "garment" or "covering."
This word then developed into Old English "clāþ" (pronounced something like "klawth" with a long 'a' sound like in "father" and a soft 'th' sound). The first known uses of "clāþ" in Old English, dating back to before 1150 AD, referred to a piece of material used to wrap or cover the body, like a basic garment or a covering. It wasn't primarily about the general fabric itself, but rather a specific item for wearing or covering.
Over time, this Old English "clāþ" evolved into Middle English "cloth" or "clath." Eventually, the meaning broadened to include any woven or felted material, and it also split into two distinct ideas:
"cloth" (the material itself, or a specific piece of it like a cleaning cloth)
"clothes" (the plural form, meaning garments or apparel). Interestingly, "clothes" was originally the plural of "cloth" in Old English!
So, the journey of "cloth" goes from a basic covering in ancient Germanic times, through Old English where it meant a piece of material for the body, and finally to modern English where it refers to both the general fabric and specific pieces of it, while "clothes" took on the meaning of garments.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cloth
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "cloth" and its related forms, supplemented where common idioms are less prevalent for the exact word:
The cloth: (Referring to the clergy or religious profession)
Example: "He decided to enter the cloth after years of study."
Cut your cloth according to your cloth / Cut your coat according to your cloth: (To live within your means; to manage your affairs according to your resources)
Example: "We'd love a bigger house, but we have to cut our cloth according to our cloth."
Of the same cloth: (Sharing the same characteristics, often negative; similar in nature)
Example: "Both politicians were of the same cloth, promising change but delivering little."
Wet cloth: (A damp rag, often used for cleaning or cooling)
Example: "She put a cool wet cloth on his forehead to bring down his fever."
New cloth / Old cloth: (Figurative: Referring to something new or old, especially in the context of ideas or policies)
Example: "Trying to patch new wine into old cloth never works." (Biblical allusion, often "new wine into old wineskins" or "new patch on an old garment")
A bolt of cloth: (A standard measurement of rolled fabric)
Example: "The tailor ordered several bolts of cloth for the new uniform design."
Take a cloth to something: (To clean or polish something)
Example: "Before the guests arrived, she took a cloth to all the dusty surfaces."
Woven from the same cloth: (Similar to "of the same cloth," emphasizing shared origins or fundamental nature)
Example: "Their arguments, despite their different political affiliations, seemed woven from the same cloth."
A threadbare cloth: (Figurative: Referring to something worn out, lacking substance, or barely holding together)
Example: "His excuses were becoming a threadbare cloth, easily seen through."
Dressing in borrowed clothes: (Figurative: Trying to be someone you're not, or using ideas that aren't your own)
Example: "He was clearly dressing in borrowed clothes during his presentation, using arguments that weren't truly his." (Uses the related word "clothes" for a similar effect to "cloth.")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cloth from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
