jute

IPA/dʒuːt/
KK[dʒˈut]IPA/dʒuːt/

jute — noun

1. a natural fiber taken from the stem of tropical plants, used mainly to make rope

1.nounB1
Definition

a natural fiber taken from the stem of tropical plants, used mainly to make rope, rough fabric, and bags

Example

Farmers in Bangladesh grow jute and sell the dried fiber to local factories.

uncountable; source of jute (Bangladesh)

Lena bought jute placemats for her kitchen because they are natural and cheap.

jute + noun (placemats) describing material

Common collocations
  • grow jute
  • harvest jute
  • process jute
  • jute bag
  • jute sack
  • jute rope
  • jute carpet
  • jute fiber
  • raw jute
  • dried jute
  • hand-spun jute
  • woven jute
Synonyms
  • hemp

    hemp comes from the cannabis plant and is stronger than jute; used for similar purposes such as rope and textiles

  • sisal

    sisal comes from agave leaves and is stiffer than jute; commonly used for twine and doormats

  • flax

    flax fibers come from the flax plant and are finer than jute; used to make linen fabric

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

Usage Note

Jute is a plant fiber, not a manufactured material. It is often contrasted with synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Jute, hemp, sisal, flax, and cotton are all plant fibers, but they differ in strength, texture, and common uses. Jute is soft and inexpensive, making it ideal for burlap sacks, carpet backing, and eco-friendly shopping bags. Hemp is much stronger and more durable, so it is used for heavy ropes, canvas, and even building materials. Sisal is stiff and coarse, which suits it well for scrubbing brushes, doormats, and twine. Flax produces fine, smooth fibers that are woven into linen — a fabric valued for breathability in clothing and bedding. Cotton, by contrast, is soft, fluffy, and comfortable against the skin, which makes it the most popular fiber for everyday clothing. So while all five are natural, each occupies a different market: jute for utility and packaging, hemp for strength, sisal for abrasion, flax for elegance, and cotton for comfort.

hemp ↗sisalflax ↗cotton ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • made of jute
  • made from jute
  • woven from jute

Etymology

SanskritBengaliPortugueseEnglish

Jute enters English in the mid-18th century, adapted from Bengali 'jhuṭo' (matted hair), itself from Sanskrit 'jūṭa' (matted hair or twisted mass of hair). The name refers to the tangled, hair-like appearance of the plant fibers before they are processed.

First known use

1746

1746, in the meaning defined above Noun (2)