satin

IPA/ˈsætɪn/
KK[sˈætən]IPA/ˈsætn/

satin — noun

1. a fabric woven so that one side is glossy and bright while the other side is not

1.nounB1
Definition

a fabric woven so that one side is glossy and bright while the other side is not shiny; it may be made from silk or from cheaper man-made fibres.

Example

Meera chose a deep blue satin dress for the wedding reception.

satin + noun: attributive use for clothing

The inside of the jacket was lined with smooth white satin.

lined with + satin (material as object)

Common collocations
  • satin dress
  • satin ribbon
  • satin sheets
  • satin blouse
  • satin lining
  • satin gown
  • satin finish
  • white satin
  • ivory satin
  • satin bow
  • made of satin
  • lined with satin
Synonyms
  • silk

    silk is a natural fibre from silkworms; satin is a weave type that can be made from silk or synthetic fibres

  • taffeta

    a crisp, smooth fabric that rustles; satin has a softer drape and higher shine

  • charmeuse

    a lightweight satin-weave fabric with a very glossy front; even shinier than standard satin

Antonyms
  • felt

    a thick, dull fabric with no shine at all

  • cotton

    a matte, breathable natural fabric with no glossy finish

Grammar Patterns

satin + noun (as modifier)

made of + satin

Usage Note

Uncountable — you cannot say 'a satin' to mean one piece of the cloth. Use 'a piece of satin' or 'a satin [garment]'. Often used as a modifier before another noun (satin dress, satin ribbon).

Common Mistakes

I bought a beautiful satin.' (meaning a garment)
I bought a beautiful satin dress.
satin is the fabric, not the garment itself.
The scarf is made from a soft satin.
The scarf is made from soft satin.
do not use 'a' with uncountable satin.

2. a paint which, once dry, shows a gentle shine somewhere between a matt and a glo

2.nounB2
Definition

a paint which, once dry, shows a gentle shine somewhere between a matt and a gloss finish.

Example

We used white satin paint on the kitchen walls because it is easy to clean.

satin paint on [surface]: common usage phrase

The carpenter suggested satin paint for the window frames instead of gloss.

Common collocations
  • satin paint
  • satin finish
  • satin sheen
  • satin varnish
  • satinwood paint
  • apply satin paint
Synonyms
  • semi-gloss paint

    slightly more shiny than satin paint; a common American term for a similar finish

  • eggshell paint

    very low shine, less glossy than satin paint; common in US home decor

  • matt paint

    has no shine at all; the opposite extreme from gloss on the shine scale

Antonyms
  • gloss paint

    paint with a very shiny, reflective surface when dry

  • matt paint

    paint that dries with a completely flat, non-shiny surface

Grammar Patterns

satin + paint (compound)

satin + finish

satin + [colour]

Usage Note

This sense is common in British English for home-decorating contexts. In American English, 'semi-gloss' or 'eggshell' are more often used for similar paint finishes. 'Satin paint' is uncountable in general reference but can be countable when talking about types or brands ('a satin paint that dries quickly').

Common Mistakes

I painted the door with satin.
I painted the door with satin paint.
'satin' alone means the fabric; add 'paint' to refer to the paint type.
Satin paint is more shiny than gloss paint.
Satin paint is less shiny than gloss paint.
satin paint is between matt and gloss, not the shiniest.

satin — adjective

Word family

  • satiny
    adjectiveB2
  • satinette
    nounC1
  • satinwood
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Satin describes a weave type, not a fibre: a satin fabric has a glossy front and a matte back, achieved by floating the warp threads over multiple weft threads. Silk, by contrast, names the natural fibre produced by silkworms — silk can be woven into satin, but also into plain, twill, or jacquard weaves. Velvet has a thick, soft pile (raised loops cut short) on its surface, giving it a plush texture unlike satin's flat, slippery finish. Lace is an openwork fabric with patterned holes, used for decoration and detail rather than for structure. Taffeta, like satin, is smooth and lustrous, but it is crisper and makes a rustling sound when moved, whereas satin drapes softly. For everyday conversation: 'satin dress' suggests a smooth, shiny, elegant look; 'silk dress' tells you the material but not the texture; 'velvet dress' implies warmth and richness; 'lace dress' suggests delicate ornamentation; 'taffeta dress' implies stiffness and a swishing sound.

satin ↗silk ↗velvet ↗lace ↗taffeta ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • as smooth as satin
  • satin-like finish
  • satin-weave fabric

Prepositions

  • made of satin
  • lined with satin
  • covered in satin
  • finished in satin

Etymology

ChineseArabicOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'satin' entered English in the 1300s from Old French 'satin', which came from Arabic 'zaytūnī' (زيتوني), meaning 'of Zaytun' — the Arabic name for the Chinese port city of Quanzhou (泉州) in Fujian province, from which satin fabric was shipped along the Silk Road to the Middle East and eventually Europe. The fabric itself originated in China, where silk satin-weave textiles had been produced for centuries before reaching Western markets.