Fabric

Definition

Fabric is a material, typically produced by weaving or knitting textile fibers, used to make things such as clothes, curtains, and linens.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈfæbrɪk/
• Respelling: FAB-rik (with "FAB" as in "tab" and "rik" as in "trick")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈfæbrɪk/
• Respelling: FAB-rik (with "FAB" as in "tab" and "rik" as in "trick")

In both dialects, "fabric" places the primary stress on the first syllable, "FAB." The pronunciation is the same across both American and British English, focusing on the clear articulation of "FAB-rik."

Etymology

The word "fabric" comes from the Latin word fabrica, meaning "a workshop, trade, craft," and by extension, "a thing made," which is derived from faber, meaning "worker" or "craftsman." The term entered Old French as fabrique and then Middle English as fabric, where it initially referred to the construction or framework of a building. Over time, its meaning expanded to include textiles and woven materials.

Derivatives

• Fabricate (verb)
• Fabrication (noun)
• Fabrics (noun, plural)
• Fabricator (noun)
• Fabricated (adjective)

Synonyms

• Textile
• Material
• Cloth

Antonyms

• None (there are no direct antonyms, but in specific contexts, terms like "raw" or "unprocessed" could be considered opposite in meaning to fabric as a finished material).

Usage

"Fabric" is most commonly used to refer to materials used in the production of clothing, furnishings, and other textile products. It can also be used in a broader sense to describe the structural makeup of something, whether physical, social, or conceptual.

Related Terms

• Weave: The way in which threads are combined in cloth-making.
• Fiber: A thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed.
• Yarn: Spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing.

Detailed Definition

Noun

• Textile Material: Refers to any cloth or textile material produced by weaving, knitting, or felting fibers together. This is the most common and direct meaning of the term.
  • Example: The dress was made from a soft, flowing fabric that draped beautifully.

• Material Used in Manufacturing: In industrial contexts, fabric refers to any material used in the production of garments, upholstery, or similar items.
  • Example: The factory produces fabrics for a variety of applications, including clothing and home decor.

• Structural Makeup: Describes the underlying structure or framework of something, whether physical, such as a building, or abstract, such as society.
  • Example: The fabric of society is held together by shared values and traditions.

• Framework of an Entity: Refers to the essential components or the overall composition of an entity or system.
  • Example: The fabric of the company was built on strong ethical principles.