percale
/pə:'keil/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A fine, closely woven, plain-weave cotton fabric, typically characterized by its smooth texture, matte finish, and high thread count. It is commonly used for high-quality bed sheets and apparel.
Usage
Percale refers specifically to the type of fabric itself, not the finished product (like sheets). It describes the material's weave and quality. * Percale is known for being crisp, cool, and breathable. * She prefers percale sheets for their smooth, matte feel. * This shirt is made from a lightweight percale cotton.
Examples
- The hotel uses luxurious percale for all its bed linens.
- Compared to sateen, percale has a more crisp and cool hand feel.
- Look for a high thread count when buying percale to ensure durability.
Advanced Usage
- "Percale weave": A technical term specifying the plain (one-over, one-under) weaving pattern that defines this fabric.
- The durability of the sheet comes from its simple percale weave.
Variants and Related Words
- Percale sheets (noun phrase): Bed sheets made from percale fabric. This is a common compound term where "percale" functions as an adjective.
- We bought a set of white percale sheets.
Synonyms
- Plain weave fabric: A more general technical term.
- Cambric: A similar fine, plain-woven fabric, though historically of linen.
Antonyms
- Sateen: A fabric with a satin weave, producing a smooth, lustrous surface, unlike percale's matte finish.
- Flannel: A soft, loosely woven fabric, often brushed for warmth, contrasting with percale's crisp, cool weave.
Noun
- a fine closely woven cotton fabric