What does "terry" mean?
A type of coarse cotton fabric covered in many small raised loops that is used to make towels, bathrobes and some types of nappy/diaper.
Terry
/ˈtɛɹi/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A type of coarse cotton fabric covered in many small raised loops that is used to make towels, bathrobes and some types of nappy/diaper.
- Grammar: terry is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: terrycloth, terry cloth, forename, given name.
- Useful contrasts: anonymous, slick cloth, smooth fabric.
- Usage evidence: Why? Because Terry Tate always replied promptly, that's why.
How to use "terry"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "terry" 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 "terry" 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 "terry" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "terry" 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 "terry" is acting as name, 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 "terrycloth" 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 "terry", 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 type of coarse cotton fabric covered in many small raised loops that is used to make towels, bathrobes and some types of nappy/diaper. countable, uncountable
- 2 A terrorist euphemistic
- 3 a pile fabric (usually cotton) with uncut loops on both sides; used to make bath towels and bath robes wordnet
- 4 Any makeshift cloth nappy folded from a large piece of absorbent fabric and held in place by a nappy pin or nappy fastener; a flat nappy. Commonwealth, countable, dated, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname originating as a patronymic from the medieval Norman given name Thierry, a cognate of the English Derek.
- 2 A male given name from the Germanic languages transferred back from the surname, or a diminutive of Terence or of any of its alternative forms.
"Tao was a voracious consumer of fantasy books like Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. When a class was boring, he doodled intricate maps of imaginary lands."
- 3 A male given name from Latin derived from the Latin for the third ("tertius") given to a third child or a child whose name has the suffix III.
- 4 A female given name, diminutive of Teresa or any of its alternative forms.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Leopold Township, Perry County, Indiana.
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; A township in Finney County, Kansas.
- 7 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in West Carroll Parish, Louisiana.
- 8 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Hinds County, Mississippi.
- 9 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in St. Clair County, Missouri.
- 10 A number of places in the United States:; A ghost town in Pemiscot County, Missouri.
- 11 A number of places in the United States:; A small town, the county seat of Prairie County, Montana.
- 12 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Lawrence County, South Dakota.
- 13 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Why? Because Terry Tate always replied promptly, that's why."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "terry"?
Common synonyms include: terrycloth, terry cloth, forename, given name, terrance, towel fabric.
How do you use "terry" in a sentence?
Why? Because Terry Tate always replied promptly, that's why.
How do you pronounce "terry"?
Pronounced /ˈtɛɹi/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Of uncertain origin, possibly French tiré (“drawn out”), past participle of tirer (“to draw out”).
Etymology 2
Contraction of terrorist.