durable press
- noun
- US
:
tela de fácil cuidado
- The shirt was made from a durable press fabric that remained smooth even after multiple washes.
Examples
-
Since the 1950s, ARS scientists have played key roles in the research to develop durable press treatments, usually called permanent press, that give cotton and cotton blends wrinkle resistance.
Academic text (2002) -
And durable press plays a key role in the continued popularity of cotton and cotton-blend fabrics.
Academic text (2002) -
Many people prefer durable press trousers because they stay neat and don't require ironing.
-
She chose a durable press dress for the wedding to ensure she would look fresh all day.
Synonyms
1
4.6
Clothing made to resist wrinkles and keep its shape after washing
How Wrinkle-Resistant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective 'durable' clearly signals lasting or resistant quality and 'press' evokes ironing/pressing, so a learner can partially infer the phrase refers to fabric that endures laundering or pressing. However, the specific technical sense (a chemical finish applied to resist wrinkling and retain shape) is specialized and not fully predictable from the constituent meanings alone, making the expression only partially transparent to B1 learners.
Etymology
Durable press comes from clothing care: press means the smooth look made by ironing and durable means it lasts. So 'durable press' refers to fabric made to resist wrinkles and 'keep its shape' after washing, which is why these clothes need less ironing.