What does "calico" mean?
A kind of rough cloth made from unbleached and not fully processed cotton, often printed with a bright pattern.
Calico
/ˈkæ.lɪ.kəʊ/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A kind of rough cloth made from unbleached and not fully processed cotton, often printed with a bright pattern.
- Grammar: calico is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: calico cloth, calico fabric, chintz, cloth.
- Useful contrasts: manmade textile, monochrome, monochrome cat.
- Usage evidence: The gingham dog and the calico cat Side by side on the table sat.
How to use "calico"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "calico" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "calico" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "calico" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "calico" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "calico" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "calico cloth" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "calico", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A kind of rough cloth made from unbleached and not fully processed cotton, often printed with a bright pattern. countable, uncountable
"This helix was covered with calico, and then a second wire applied in the same manner."
- 2 coarse cloth with a bright print wordnet
- 3 Ellipsis of calico cat. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis
"One of them, a calico whose half-grown kittens he just fed, slow-blinks at him, an affectionate gesture."
- 4 The plant disease caused by Tobacco mosaic virus. uncountable
Adjective
- 1 Made of calico or resembling the color of calico cloth, having a pattern of red and contrasting areas; variegated. not-comparable
"The calico cat had distinctive red and dark markings."
- 2 Made of calico or resembling the color of calico cloth, having a pattern of red and contrasting areas; variegated.; Having red, brunette, and blond hair colors, resembling the fur of a calico cat. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly wordnet
- 2 made of calico or resembling calico in being patterned wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The gingham dog and the calico cat Side by side on the table sat."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "calico"?
Common synonyms include: calico cloth, calico fabric, chintz, cloth, clouded, colorful.
How do you use "calico" in a sentence?
The gingham dog and the calico cat Side by side on the table sat.
How do you pronounce "calico"?
Pronounced /ˈkæ.lɪ.kəʊ/.
Etymology
From Calicut, from where the cloth was originally exported, from Malayalam കോഴിക്കോട് (kōḻikkōṭŭ, “Kozhikode”), from കോഴി (kōḻi, “palace”) + കോട് (kōṭŭ, “fortified palace”).