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silk (sĭlk)
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n.
1.
a. A fine lustrous fiber composed mainly of fibroin and produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons, especially the strong, elastic, fibrous secretion of silkworms used to make thread and fabric.
b. Thread or fabric made from this fiber.
c. A garment made from this fabric.
2.
a. A silky filamentous material spun by a spider or an insect such as a webspinner.
b. A silky filamentous material produced by a plant, such as the styles forming a tuft on an ear of corn.
3. silks The brightly colored identifying garments of a jockey or harness driver.
adj.
Composed of or similar to the fiber or the fabric silk.
intr.v. silked, silk·ing, silks
To develop silk. Used of corn.
[Middle English, from Old English sioloc, probably of Slavic origin (akin to Old Church Slavonic šelkŭ), ultimately from Greek sērikon, neuter of sērikos, silken; see SERGE1.]
(click for a larger image)
silk
top: jockey silks
bottom: ear of corn
(click for a larger image)
silk
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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