noun

fabric

FAB-rik/ˈfæbrɪk/

Cloth formed by interlacing fibers.

Three pieces of fabric show different textures and fiber patterns.

Three overlapping pieces of cloth: a loosely folded woven cotton length, a soft knitted swatch, and a small felt sheet, with simple edges and drawn fiber structures distinguishing them.

Etymology

fabricLatinworkshop; skillful production

Latin fabrica connected a workshop with what skilled work produced. English fabric first meant a building, then a made thing or structure, and narrowed through “manufactured material” to cloth.

In context

Lazy Historian34:47

… the seams pull the fabric in and the shape emerges from flat pieces of cloth …

Inside the Dirty Secret of 1800s Funeral Clothing | History for Sleep

More examples

She chooses a light fabric for her summer dress.
These fabrics shrink when washed in hot water.
We need two yards of fabric to cover the cushions.

Forms

fabric · fabrics

Similar words

cloth: Cloth is the everyday term for woven or knitted material.
textile: Textile emphasizes fiber-based materials, especially in manufacturing or trade.
material: Material is broader and can include substances other than cloth.