Word: Napkin
Part of Speech: Noun
Basic Definition: A napkin is a small piece of cloth or paper that you use when eating. It is placed on your lap to protect your clothes from food and to wipe your mouth and hands while you eat.
Usage Instructions: - You usually place a napkin on your lap before you start eating. - After taking a bite or sipping a drink, you can use the napkin to clean your mouth. - At formal dinners, you may wait until everyone is seated to unfold your napkin.
Example Sentence: “Before starting the meal, Maria placed a napkin on her lap to keep her dress clean.”
Advanced Usage: In more formal dining situations, napkins can be folded in creative shapes as part of table decoration. Additionally, some cultures have specific rules about how and when to use a napkin.
Word Variants: - Napkin holder: A small container used to hold and display napkins on the table. - Serviette: Another word for a napkin, often used in British English.
Different Meanings: 1. In terms of babies, a "napkin" can refer to a cloth or disposable diaper used to catch a baby's waste. This is also known as a "diaper" in American English. 2. In some contexts, "napkin" can refer to any small cloth used to catch spills or messes.
Synonyms: - Serviette (primarily British English) - Tablecloth (though this is larger and covers the table, not the lap) - Wipe (in the context of paper napkins)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:While there are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs that specifically include the word "napkin," the phrase "put it on the napkin" can sometimes be used informally to mean quickly jotting down an idea or plan, suggesting that the idea is not yet formalized.
Summary: A napkin is an essential item used during meals to keep our clothes clean and to maintain good manners.