What does "mercerize" mean?

To treat (cotton fabric) with sodium hydroxide to make it more lustrous and accepting of dyes.

What is a synonym for "mercerize"?

Common synonyms include: causticize, mercerise.

verb

verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Verb

1
To treat (cotton fabric) with sodium hydroxide to make it more lustrous and accepting of dyes. transitive
2
treat to strengthen and improve the luster wordnet

From Mercer + -ize, named after John Mercer of Great Harwood, Lancashire, who invented the process in the mid-19th century.