Definition

Noun: 1. Unprocessed wool fiber: Wool that has been sheared from a sheep but has not undergone any cleaning, scouring, carding, spinning, or other manufacturing processes. It retains its natural lanolin (grease), dirt, and vegetable matter.

Usage

The term "raw wool" specifically describes the state of the material immediately after shearing and before any industrial or craft processing begins. It is the primary commodity in the textile trade for wool products.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer sold the season's clip of raw wool to the mill.
  • Before spinning, the raw wool must be washed to remove grease and impurities.
  • The price of raw wool on the global market fluctuates with demand.

Advanced Usage

• In trade and economics: "Raw wool" is a standard term in commodities trading and agricultural economics, referring to the unprocessed good.
  • The country's economy relies heavily on the export of raw wool.

Variants and Related Words

• Greasy wool: A synonym often used interchangeably with "raw wool," emphasizing the presence of natural lanolin.
• Scoured wool: Wool that has been washed (scoured) to clean it; this is the first stage of processing raw wool.
• Wool top: A continuous strand of combed wool fibers, produced after raw wool has been cleaned and prepared.

Synonyms

• Greasy wool
• Unprocessed wool
• Fleece wool (when referring to the entire shorn coat)

Notes

"Raw wool" is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific and technical within the contexts of agriculture, textiles, and trade. It is not typically used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.

Noun

1. wool in its natural condition; not refined or processed