skein skeɪn noun
: a loosely coiled length of yarn or thread
The word skein has appeared in eight articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on June 4 in “Use Natural Plant Dyes to Infuse Memories Onto Fabrics,” by Margaret Roach. It describes how James Young learned through trial and error how to create dyes:
A less fade-resistant purple derives from native prairie prickly pear fruits (Opuntia macrorhiza), the first plant Mr. Young tried dyeing with, at about age 17. “It was a huge disaster,” he recalled of a skein of yarn gone horribly wrong because he failed to prepare the yarn or fruit correctly (he used heat, destroying its pigments).
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word skein in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
If you want a better idea of how skein can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.
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