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Glite Dictionary
mercerized

mercerized

1 8.8
Cotton thread or cloth treated so it is smooth, shiny, and holds color better
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɜːrsəraɪzd/
  • Specialized
: mercerizado
  • She prefers mercerized cotton for her sewing projects.
  • mercerized cotton

Examples

  • Many luxury towels are woven from mercerized yarns that hold dye better than untreated fibers.

  • The shirt is made from mercerized cotton, making it feel smoother and more lustrous than regular cotton.

  • She prefers mercerized thread for embroidery because of its sheen and strength.

  • The fabric is mercerized to enhance its color.

  • The dress she wore was made from mercerized cotton, giving it a shiny, elegant look.

  • I prefer using mercerized thread for my sewing projects because it colors beautifully.

  • The tablecloth was crafted from mercerized fabric, enhancing its ability to withstand stains.

How Shiny

glossy
31 2.6
mercerized
  • Specialized
1 8.8
finished
  • Specialized
33 1.0
dull
30 1.0

Surface Forms

mercerized positive

Morphology

mercerized = mercerize (opaque) = mercer + ize + ed

Forming 'mercerized' by adding the regular past-participial/adjectival suffix '-ed' to the verb 'mercerize' is a straightforward, productive process.

Etymology

Mercerized is named after the English chemist John Mercer, who found a way to 'treat' cotton so it becomes smoother and stronger. So, mercerized cotton is cotton 'treated' to be shinier and better at taking color.