wire-cloth

A worker uses wire-cloth to sift sand at a construction site.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mesh material: "wire-cloth" refers to a fabric-like material made from interwoven metal wires. It is typically used for screening, filtering, or as a protective barrier.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The factory uses wire-cloth to filter out large particles from the liquid. (A metal mesh used for separation.)
  • We installed wire-cloth over the windows to keep insects out. (A protective screen made of woven metal.)

Advanced Usage

• "wire-cloth in industrial applications": Wire-cloth is often employed in mining, food processing, and construction for sifting or reinforcing.
  • The sieve was made of fine wire-cloth to separate flour from bran. (A precise mesh for separating materials.)

Variants and Related Words

• Wire (n): a thin, flexible thread of metal.

  • The electrician used copper wire to connect the circuit. (A single metal strand.)

• Cloth (n): a woven or felted fabric made from fibers.

  • She sewed a dress from cotton cloth. (A textile material.)

• Wire mesh (n): a similar material, often used interchangeably with wire-cloth, but wire-cloth implies a finer weave.

  • The fence was made of wire mesh, but the filter required wire-cloth. (A distinction in weave density.)

Synonyms

• Metal mesh: a network of metal strands.
• Screen: a piece of wire-cloth used for filtering or protection.
• Gauze: a thin, open-weave fabric, sometimes made of metal.

Related Idioms

• "to be caught in a wire-cloth": (rare) to become entangled in a complex situation.
  • His plans were caught in a wire-cloth of regulations. (Figurative use meaning trapped in bureaucracy.)