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Definition of yarn noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

yarn

noun
 
/jɑːn/
 
/jɑːrn/
Idioms
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  1. [uncountable, countable] thread that has been spun, used for knitting, making cloth, etc.
    • The sweaters are hand-knitted in cotton, linen or wool yarns.
    • There's a knot in the yarn.
    Extra Examples
    • The yarn has to be threaded through the needle.
    • The yarn is woven into a coarse fabric.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • fine
    • thick
    • coloured/​colored
    • …
    … of yarn
    • length
    • piece
    • ball
    • …
    verb + yarn
    • knit
    • knit with
    • spin
    • …
    preposition
    • in a/​the yarn
    See full entry
  2. [countable] (informal) a long story, especially one that is exaggerated or invented
    • He used to spin yarns (= tell stories) about his time in the army.
    Extra Examples
    • He tried to spin us some yarn about how he was collecting for the church. It was all lies.
    • He went on to spin an entertaining yarn about his army days.
    Topics Literature and writingc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • entertaining
    • good
    • gripping
    • …
    verb + yarn
    • spin (somebody)
    • tell (somebody)
    preposition
    • yarn about
    See full entry
    3. Word OriginOld English gearn; of Germanic origin, related to Dutch garen.
Idioms
pitch a story/line/yarn (to somebody)
  1. (informal) to tell somebody a story or make an excuse that is not true
See yarn in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: yarn

Nearby words

hide-and-seek
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Games and toys
C2
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