Silk — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈsilk/

Meaning & Definition of Silk

Silk (noun)

  1. a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually for cocoons; especially, a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used for textiles
  2. thread, yarn, or fabric made from silk filaments
  3. a garment of silk

Silk (verb)

  1. to develop the silk

Silk (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having goods, property, or money in abundance

    "the luxurious resort caters exclusively to a silk-stocking clientele"

    similar: affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, loaded, moneyed, opulent, rich, wealthy, well-endowed, well-fixed, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do, in the chips
    related: better-off, comfortable, propertied, prosperous, substantial, successful, flourishing, prospering, thriving, advantaged, blessed, privileged
    opposite: destitute, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy, penniless, penurious, poor, poverty-stricken
    near: unaffluent, deprived, disadvantaged, hand-to-mouth, underprivileged, bankrupt, bankrupted, beggared, broke, indebted, insolvent, pauperized, ruined, skint (chiefly British), depressed, pinched, reduced, straitened, low, short

  2. of high birth, rank, or station

    "detectives assigned to investigate crimes among the silk-stocking types found on the city's gold coast"

    similar: aristocratic, blue-blooded, genteel, gentle, grand, great, highborn, highbred, noble, patrician, upper-class, upper-crust, wellborn
    related: high, lofty, superior, elevated, ennobled, exalted, gentlemanly, kingly, knightly, ladylike, lordly, princely, queenly, regal, royal, high-level, senior
    opposite: baseborn, common, humble, ignoble, low, lower-class, lowly, mean, nonaristocratic, plebeian, ungenteel
    near: inferior, knavish, bastard, illegitimate, ordinary, plain, abased, degraded, junior, subordinate

Silk (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a wealthy person

    "made her reputation as an interior designer for the silk stockings of Nob Hill"

    similar: capitalist, Croesus, deep pocket, fat cat, have, money, moneybags, plutocrat
    related: moneymaker, money-spinner (chiefly British), magnate, nabob, tycoon, billionaire, gazillionaire, millionaire, multibillionaire, multimillionaire, multimillionairess, zillionaire, heir, heiress, jet-setter, jeunesse dorée
    opposite: have-not, pauper
    near: bankrupt, beggar

  2. as in baseball cap, cowboy hat

    similar: baseball cap, beret, billycock (British), biretta, boater, bonnet, bowler, calotte, capuche, casque, castor, cloche, cocked hat, cowboy hat, cowl, derby, fedora, fez, garrison cap, hard hat, helm, helmet, high hat, homburg, hood, kepi, kufi, leghorn, miter, nightcap, opera hat, overseas cap, panama, picture hat, pillbox, plug hat, porkpie hat, service cap, shako, skimmer, skullcap, sombrero, sou'wester, Stetson, stocking cap, stovepipe, sunbonnet, tam, tam-o'-shanter, ten-gallon hat, top hat, topper, toque, tricorne, turban, zucchetto, cap, chapeau, hat, headdress, headgear, headpiece, lid (slang), warbonnet

  3. as in baseball caps, cowboy hats

    similar: baseball caps, berets, billycocks (British), birettas, boaters, bonnets, bowlers, calottes, capuches, casques, castors, cloches, cocked hats, cowboy hats, cowls, derbies, fedoras, fezzes, garrison caps, hard hats, helmets, helms, high hats, homburgs, hoods, kepis, kufis, leghorns, miters, nightcaps, opera hats, overseas caps, panamas, picture hats, pillboxes, plug hats, porkpie hats, service caps, shakos, skimmers, skullcaps, sombreros, sou'westers, Stetsons, stocking caps, stovepipes, sunbonnets, tam-o'-shanters, tams, ten-gallon hats, top hats, toppers, toques, tricornes, turbans, zucchettos, caps, chapeaus, hats, headdresses, headgears, headpieces, lids (slang), warbonnets

  4. a wealthy person

    "made her reputation as an interior designer for the silk stockings of Nob Hill"

    similar: capitalists, Croesuses, deep pockets, fat cats, haves, money, moneybags, plutocrats
    related: moneymakers, money-spinners (chiefly British), magnates, nabobs, tycoons, billionaires, gazillionaires, millionaires, multibillionaires, multimillionaires, multimillionairesses, zillionaires, heiresses, heirs, jet-setters, jeunesse dorée
    opposite: have-nots, paupers
    near: bankrupts, beggars

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Silk

The most common words with a similar meaning to Silk:

British: billycock, billycocks
Slang: lid, lids
affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, loaded, moneyed, opulent, rich, wealthy, well-endowed, well-fixed, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do, aristocratic, blue-blooded, genteel, gentle, grand, great, highborn, highbred, noble, patrician, upper-class, upper-crust, wellborn, in the chips, capitalist, Croesus, deep pocket, fat cat, have, money, moneybags, plutocrat, baseball cap, beret, biretta

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Silk

Words with the opposite meaning of Silk:

destitute, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy, penniless, penurious, poor, poverty-stricken, baseborn, common, humble, ignoble, low, lower-class, lowly, mean, nonaristocratic, plebeian, ungenteel, have-not, pauper, have-nots, paupers

Related Words for Silk

better-off, comfortable, propertied, prosperous, substantial, successful, flourishing, prospering, thriving, advantaged, blessed, privileged, high, lofty, superior, elevated, ennobled, exalted, gentlemanly, kingly, knightly, ladylike, lordly, princely, queenly, regal, royal, high-level, senior, moneymaker

Near Antonyms of Silk

unaffluent, deprived, disadvantaged, hand-to-mouth, underprivileged, bankrupt, bankrupted, beggared, broke, indebted, insolvent, pauperized, ruined, skint, depressed, pinched, reduced, straitened, short, inferior, knavish, bastard, illegitimate, ordinary, plain, abased, degraded, junior, subordinate, beggar

Word Forms of Silk

Inflections: silked, silking, silks

Derived words: silklike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Silk

Middle English, from Old English seolc, sioluc, probably ultimately from Greek sērikos silken sericeous

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Silk

Words & Phrases Containing Silk

silk cotton, silk-cotton tree, silk gland, silk hat, silk moth, silk oak, silk screen, silk-stocking

Frequently Asked Questions about Silk

What does "Silk" mean?

"Silk" means a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually for cocoons; especially, a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used for textiles. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usually for cocoons; especially, a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used for textiles. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Silk"?

Other words for "Silk" include affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, loaded, moneyed and opulent. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Silk" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Silk"?

There are 231 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Silk". Common alternatives include affluent, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, loaded, moneyed, opulent, rich and wealthy.

What is the opposite of "Silk"?

Antonyms of "Silk" include destitute, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy, penniless, penurious and poor. Near antonyms include unaffluent, deprived, disadvantaged and hand-to-mouth.

How do you use "Silk" in a sentence?

Examples of "Silk" in a sentence: "the luxurious resort caters exclusively to a silk-stocking clientele"; "detectives assigned to investigate crimes among the silk-stocking types found on the city's gold coast"; "made her reputation as an interior designer for the silk stockings of Nob Hill".

Is "Silk" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Silk" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Silk" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Silk" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Silk"?

"Silk" is pronounced /ˈsilk/.