swatch of fabric
1
3.5
- noun
- /swɑtʃ əv ˈfæbrɪk/
:
muestra de tela
- "Charlotte Blair toyed with a swatch of fabric from the gown of one of Lily's bridesmaids, then looked sharply at her daughter.
Examples
-
Bolts of cloth, swatches of fabric, photographs, house plans, and stacked catalogues were everywhere.
Fiction book (1994) -
"Oh, you don't have to worry, I think he lives quite casually," Agnes remarked, and handed her a swatch of fabric.
Fiction book (1996) -
Tip! If you opt for a colorful wedding cake that can stand on its own as a focal piece for your reception, you might choose to present it atop a coordinating swatch of fabric.
Blog text (14) -
Pinned to the felt pages were swatches of fabric, with notations of the shelves in the workroom where the bolts could be found, as well as which customers had garments made up in them already.
Fiction book (1993) -
She saw everything, each sketch, every swatch of fabric, the sheen on Defina's cheek, the ring of coffee on her Formica worktable, all of it with such clarity and affection that it almost took her breath away.
Fiction book (1994) -
Take a swatch of fabric to the store to ensure the color matches your living room decor.
-
The designer provided several swatches of fabric to help me choose the best option for my dress.
-
Before making a decision, it's wise to examine a swatch of fabric to see how it feels and looks.
Synonyms
12
5.9
A small piece of cloth used to show its color or pattern
7
1.0
A small piece cut from a larger material used to make or fix clothes
3
1.0
A part of cloth cut to use for clothes or crafts
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'swatch' (a sample) combined with 'of' + 'fabric' (textile material); the phrase literally denotes a sample piece of fabric. This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase following common patterns across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Swatch of fabric comes from cutting a small piece called a swatch from a roll of fabric so a buyer can see the color and feel the material. That's why it means 'a small sample used to check color, texture, or pattern'.