ciré

noun

ci·​ré sə-ˈrā How to pronounce ciré (audio)
sē-
variants or less commonly cire
1
: a highly glazed finish for fabrics usually achieved by applying wax to the fabric
2
: a fabric or garment with a ciré finish

Examples of ciré in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The works showed mastery of the cire perdue technique, used by Renaissance sculptors to cast molten metal using waxed molds. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 4 June 2021 This form of cire perdue allowed him to create many of his elaborated molds of spiraling 18-carat gold (mixed to his own specifications to a warm, but not over-warm, tone) in one movement, before putting them in cold water to set. Eve MacSweeney, Vogue, 1 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

French, from past participle of cirer to wax, from cire wax, from Old French, from Latin cera — more at cerumen

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ciré was in 1921

Dictionary Entries Near ciré

Cite this Entry

“Ciré.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cir%C3%A9. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ciré

noun
ci·​ré sə-ˈrā How to pronounce ciré (audio)
: a shiny fabric that looks wet
Etymology

French, literally, "waxed"

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