silk

IPA/sɪlk/
KK[sˈɪlk]IPA/sɪlk/

silk — noun

  • silksingular
  • silksplural

1. a fine, soft, shiny thread that silkworms produce, or the smooth fabric woven fr

1.nounA2
Definition

a fine, soft, shiny thread that silkworms produce, or the smooth fabric woven from that thread.

Example

Lara wore a beautiful pale pink silk dress to the wedding reception.

silk + noun (modifier showing material)

The tailor recommended pure silk for the lining of the jacket.

pure silk — common collocation for quality

Common collocations
  • pure silk
  • silk dress / scarf / tie / blouse
  • silk thread / fabric / fibre
  • made of silk
  • raw silk
  • artificial silk
Synonyms
  • satin

    a smooth, shiny fabric; can be made of silk or synthetic fibres — satin is a weave, not a raw material

  • velvet

    a soft fabric with a short dense pile on one side, heavier than silk

  • taffeta

    a crisp, smooth fabric with a slight sheen, often made of silk but stiffer

Antonyms
  • cotton

    a plant-based fibre; cheaper and less glossy than silk

  • wool

    an animal fibre from sheep; thick and warm, not smooth like silk

Grammar Patterns

silk + noun (as modifier)

made of / from silk

a silk [article of clothing]

Usage Note

As a modifier ('silk dress', 'silk scarf', 'silk road') it is far more common than the countable form ('a silk' = a garment). The uncountable use ('She sells silk') is the default.

Common Mistakes

This shirt is made by silk.
This shirt is made of silk.
use 'of' to indicate material composition.
She bought a silk for her mother.' (meaning cloth)
She bought some silk for her mother.
fabric is uncountable; use 'some' or a quantity.

2. in horse racing, the colourful tops that jockeys put on before a race, with colo

2.nounB2
Definition

in horse racing, the colourful tops that jockeys put on before a race, with colours and patterns that match their owner's stable.

Example

The jockey stepped onto the track wearing green-and-gold silks with white sleeves.

[colour]-and-[colour] silks — typical pattern for describing colours

At Sha Tin, Amira recognised her horse by its yellow-and-black silks.

silks used as plural countable noun

Common collocations
  • racing silks
  • green-and-gold silks
  • stable silks
  • wear / put on silks
Synonyms
  • racing colours

    the same concept, but emphasises the colour scheme rather than the garment; used especially in British racing

  • jersey

    a general term for a shirt worn in sports; lacks the specific racing-owner registration meaning

Grammar Patterns

[possessive] silks

silk(s) + verb (plural agreement)

Usage Note

Almost always used in the plural form ('silks'), even when referring to a single shirt. In American English, the term 'silks' is known but less common; 'racing colours' is preferred in some contexts.

3. a paint coating which becomes mildly glossy as it dries, falling between matt an

3.nounB1
Definition

a paint coating which becomes mildly glossy as it dries, falling between matt and full gloss in its level of shine.

Example

Hiro chose silk paint for the kitchen walls because it is easier to wipe clean.

silk paint — common compound noun

In the dim hallway, Diego suggested a silk finish to brighten the walls.

silk finish — the resulting surface quality

Common collocations
  • silk paint
  • silk finish / sheen
  • silk emulsion
Synonyms
  • satin paint

    the American term for the same level of sheen; not a different product

  • eggshell paint

    a slightly less shiny finish than silk; often confused with silk in DIY stores

Antonyms
  • matt paint

    paint with no reflective shine; opposite end of the sheen spectrum

  • gloss paint

    paint with a mirror-like high shine; shinier than silk

Grammar Patterns

silk paint

a silk finish / sheen

Usage Note

This is a specific product category in the UK paint industry (manufacturers label it 'silk' or 'silk finish'). In the US, the same product is usually called 'satin paint' or 'eggshell paint'.

Common Mistakes

I painted the room in silk.
I painted the room with silk paint.
you paint with silk paint, not 'in silk'.

4. in the UK and some Commonwealth countries, a senior courtroom lawyer who has bee

4.nounC1
Definition

in the UK and some Commonwealth countries, a senior courtroom lawyer who has been given the title Queen's Counsel or King's Counsel and wears a silk gown in court.

Example

Asher was appointed Queen's Counsel after twenty years of work in criminal law.

be appointed Queen's Counsel — the formal promotion phrase

After years in court, Nila hoped to take silk before turning forty.

take silk — idiomatic verb phrase meaning become a QC

Common collocations
  • take silk
  • Queen's Counsel / King's Counsel
  • appointed / awarded silk
  • silk gown
Synonyms
  • King's Counsel

    the same rank under a male monarch; functionally identical to Queen's Counsel

  • senior counsel

    a general term for a high-ranking barrister, used in some Commonwealth countries outside the UK

  • barrister

    a lawyer who argues cases in court in the UK; Queen's Counsel is a specific rank above a junior barrister

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

take silk (idiomatic verb phrase — become a QC)

[name] QC / KC

be appointed [Queen's / King's] Counsel

Usage Note

When a male monarch is on the throne the title becomes King's Counsel (KC). The verb phrase 'take silk' means to accept this appointment and is used within the legal profession. The term 'silk' alone (uncountable, no article) can refer to the rank itself: 'He was awarded silk in 2019.'

Common Mistakes

She works as a queen's counsel.' (generic)
She is a Queen's Counsel.' or 'She is Emily Chen QC.
it is a formal title and is capitalised; QC is used post-nominally.
Idioms

you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

idiom

used to say that you cannot turn something that is naturally poor-quality into something fine or elegant, no matter how hard you try.

Yasmin knew the old sofa was beyond repair — you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Seeing the cracked walls, Adina warned the investor you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

smooth as silk

idiom

extremely smooth in texture, movement, or operation; without any roughness or difficulty.

Marco's skin was smooth as silk after weeks of using the new moisturiser.

The engine started and ran smooth as silk despite the freezing weather.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Satin, velvet, and taffeta are all fabrics that can be made from silk, but each has a distinct texture and use. Satin is defined by its weave — a glossy face and a dull back — and is commonly used for evening wear and lingerie; it can be made from silk or synthetic fibres. Velvet has a short, dense pile on one side that gives it a plush, soft feel, making it a popular choice for upholstery and winter clothing. Taffeta is a crisp, lightweight fabric with a subtle rustle; it holds its shape well and is often used for ball gowns and formal dresses. While silk is the raw material (the thread itself), the other three names describe specific weaves or finishes. For example, a ball gown could be 'silk taffeta' — meaning the fabric is both woven as taffeta and made from silk — whereas a 'satin dress' might be polyester satin with no silk content at all.

satin ↗velvet ↗taffeta ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • silk dress / scarf / tie
  • silk road
  • silk screen
  • silk flower
  • silk thread
  • silk fabric
  • silk industry
  • silk trade

Phrases

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinGreekChinese

源自拉丁語 sericum（絲），經由古希臘語 Sēres（指中國人，即絲綢的產地），傳入古英語 seoluc，再演變為現代英語 silk。此詞的傳播路線反映了絲綢從中國經中亞、波斯傳往歐洲的歷史貿易路徑。

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb