Definition

Noun: A chintz is a cotton fabric, typically featuring brightly colored, often floral, patterns. It is characterized by a glazed or polished finish, which gives it a slight shine and makes it more durable and soil-resistant. Historically, it was often used for upholstery, curtains, and slipcovers.

Examples of Usage

• The sofa was covered in a cheerful chintz with a pattern of pink roses.
• She chose a vibrant floral chintz to make new curtains for the living room.
• The antique armchair still had its original 19th-century chintz upholstery.

Advanced Usage

• "Chintzy" (Adjective): Derived from "chintz," this word has two main meanings. First, it can describe something made of or resembling chintz fabric. More commonly, it is used pejoratively to describe something that is showy, cheap, or of poor quality and taste.
  • The hotel room was decorated with chintzy floral wallpaper.
  • He bought her a chintzy plastic necklace from the souvenir shop.

Variants and Related Words

• Chintzy (adj.): As described above.
• Toile: Another type of decorative printed fabric, often monochromatic, depicting pastoral or historical scenes.
• Calico: A plain-woven cotton fabric, often printed with a small, simple pattern. Unlike chintz, calico is typically unglazed.

Synonyms

• Printed cotton
• Glazed cotton
• Cretonne (a heavy, unglazed cotton fabric often used for similar purposes)

Related Idioms or Phrases

• While there are no common idioms using the word "chintz" itself, the adjective "chintzy" is frequently used in the idiom "look/feel chintzy," meaning to appear cheap or tacky.
  • The gold paint on the frame looked chintzy and began to peel.

Noun

1. a brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric