charmeuse

charmeuse — noun

1. a soft, lightweight fabric with a very glossy front and a duller back, woven in

1.nounC1
Definition

a soft, lightweight fabric with a very glossy front and a duller back, woven in a satin style so it hangs smoothly and is often used for dresses, blouses, and underwear.

Example

Aylin chose blush charmeuse for the bridesmaids' dresses at her sister's wedding.

choose + charmeuse for [garment]: fabric-selection pattern

The blouse's charmeuse sleeves caught the light each time Rin moved.

charmeuse + clothing part: noun modifier use

Common collocations
  • charmeuse dress
  • charmeuse blouse
  • charmeuse gown
  • charmeuse lining
  • charmeuse fabric
  • charmeuse sample
  • silk charmeuse
  • polyester charmeuse
  • made of charmeuse
  • lined with charmeuse
Synonyms
  • satin

    a broader term for glossy satin-weave fabric; charmeuse is usually lighter and drapes more softly

  • silk

    names the fibre rather than the weave; charmeuse may be silk or synthetic

  • chiffon

    much thinner and more transparent, with less shine and less weight

Antonyms
  • canvas

    a thick, firm fabric with a rougher surface and almost no shine

  • cotton

    an everyday matte fabric, usually less slippery and less glossy than charmeuse

Grammar Patterns

charmeuse + noun

made of charmeuse

lined with charmeuse

Usage Note

Usually uncountable when you mean the material itself. In fashion and sewing contexts, it often appears before another noun, as in 'charmeuse dress', 'charmeuse blouse', or 'charmeuse lining'.

Common Mistakes

She bought a charmeuse for the party.
She bought a charmeuse dress for the party.
charmeuse names the fabric, not the finished garment.
The scarf is made from a charmeuse.
The scarf is made from charmeuse.
when you mean the material in general, charmeuse is usually uncountable.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Charmeuse is a specific kind of satin-weave cloth known for a glossy front, a duller back, and a fluid drape. Satin is the broader word: it names the weave and can describe many fabrics, including heavier or stiffer ones. Silk names the fibre, not the surface structure, so a fabric can be silk without being charmeuse, and charmeuse can be made from silk or synthetic fibres. Chiffon is much lighter and more transparent, often floating away from the body instead of falling in smooth folds. Crepe usually has a crinkled or grainy surface, while charmeuse feels slick and polished. If a dress looks shiny and slips smoothly over the body, charmeuse is often the most exact term.

satin ↗silk ↗chiffon ↗crepe ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • charmeuse dress
  • charmeuse blouse
  • charmeuse gown
  • charmeuse lining
  • charmeuse fabric
  • silk charmeuse
  • polyester charmeuse

Phrases

  • soft charmeuse
  • glossy charmeuse
  • smooth charmeuse drape

Prepositions

  • made of charmeuse
  • lined with charmeuse
  • cut from charmeuse

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

Borrowed into English from French 'charmeuse'. In French, the word is related to the idea of someone or something charming or seductive. English textile use seems to have grown from the fabric's glossy, flowing appearance, which gives it an elegant and attractive look.