What does "wool" mean?
The hair of the sheep, llama and some other ruminants.
Wool
/wʊl/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The hair of the sheep, llama and some other ruminants.
- Grammar: wool is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: fleece, acetate rayon, alpaca, angora.
- Useful contrasts: orlon, synthetic fabric, synthetic fiber.
- Usage evidence: To record something, they used knotted cords made of the wool of the llama or alpaca.
How to use "wool"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "wool" 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 "wool" 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 "wool" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "wool" 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 "wool" is acting as name, noun, slang 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 "fleece" 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 "wool", 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 The hair of the sheep, llama and some other ruminants. uncountable, usually
"The sheep were caught and plucked, because shears had not yet been invented to cut the wool from the sheep's back."
- 2 outer coat of especially sheep and yaks wordnet
- 3 A cloth or yarn made from such hair. uncountable, usually
"Spielvogel said wet cleaning also has limitations; while it is fine for cottons and fabrics worn in warm climates, he said, it can damage heavy wools or structured clothes like suit jackets."
- 4 a fabric made from the hair of sheep wordnet
- 5 Anything with a fibrous texture like that of sheep's wool. uncountable, usually
"The groundsels have leaves covered in wool for insulation[…"
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 fiber sheared from animals (such as sheep) and twisted into yarn for weaving wordnet
- 7 A fine fiber obtained from the leaves of certain trees, such as firs and pines. uncountable, usually
- 8 Short, thick hair, especially when crisped or curled. obsolete, uncountable, usually
"wool of bat and tongue of dog"
- 9 Yarn, including that made from synthetic fibers. British, New-Zealand, uncountable, usually
- 10 A woolly back; a resident of a satellite town outside Liverpool, such as St Helens or Warrington. See also Yonner. derogatory, uncountable, usually
- 11 A marijuana cigarette or cigar laced with crack cocaine. slang, uncountable, usually
"The object of your affection is the treetop connection / Where basically you love to smoke your wools"
Proper Noun
- 1 A village and civil parish in Dorset, England, previously in Purbeck district (OS grid ref SY8486).
Antonyms
Example
"To record something, they used knotted cords made of the wool of the llama or alpaca."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "wool"?
Common synonyms include: fleece, acetate rayon, alpaca, angora, aralac, avisco.
How do you use "wool" in a sentence?
To record something, they used knotted cords made of the wool of the llama or alpaca.
How do you pronounce "wool"?
Pronounced /wʊl/.
Etymology
From Middle English wolle, from Old English wull, from Proto-West Germanic *wullu, from Proto-Germanic *wullō, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wĺ̥h₁neh₂. Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian Wulle, German Low German Wull, Dutch wol, German Wolle, Norwegian ull; also Welsh gwlân, Latin lāna, Lithuanian vi̇̀lna, Russian во́лос (vólos), Slovak vlna, Bulgarian влас (vlas), Albanian lesh (“wool, hair, fleece”). Doublet of lana. The vowel development u → o → oo is purely graphical. Modern English generally avoids the string ⟨wu⟩ in favour of ⟨wo⟩, and the resulting woll was then altered to wool (as supposedly better representing the pronunciation).