wool

noun

ˈwu̇l 

often attributive

1

: the soft wavy or curly usually thick undercoat of various hairy mammals and especially the sheep made up of a matrix of keratin fibers and covered with minute scales

2

: a product of wool

especially : a woven fabric or garment of such fabric

3

a

: a dense felted pubescence especially on a plant : tomentum

b

: a filamentous mass

—usually used in combination compare mineral wool, steel wool

Synonyms

• coat
• fleece
• fur
• hair
• jacket
• pelage
• pile

Examples of wool in a Sentence

She doesn't like wool because it can be itchy.

the wool from cashmere goats is considered by many to be the finest available

Recent Examples on the Web

Woolmark said the designs had to highlight merino wool’s versatility, innovative nature and have eco-credentials. —Sandra Salibian, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025

Photographed by David Sims, Vogue, March 2007 Caroline Trentini, facing the team behind The September Issue, wears a wool coat by Versace. —Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025

Daylight savings, temperatures creeping upward, wool coats tossed aside for a light jacket: Spring is in the air, and with it, Haim season. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025

Ross and Mary showed us the joys and challenges of owning and operating a working sheep farm during a time when there is little demand for wool. —Lois Alter Mark, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wolle, from Old English wull; akin to Old High German wolla wool, Latin vellus fleece, lana wool

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wool

• combing wool
• cotton wool
• cotton wool ball
• dyed-in-the-wool
• glass wool
• lamb's wool
• mineral wool
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• pull the wool over someone's eyes
• Shetland wool
• steel wool
• virgin wool
• wire wool
• wool fat
• wool grease

Rhymes for wool

• full
• pull
• brimful
• handful
• mouthful
• roomful
• spoonful

Kids Definition

wool

noun

ˈwu̇l 

1

: the soft wavy or curly usually thick undercoat of various mammals and especially the sheep

2

: a fabric or garment made of wool

3

: material that resembles a mass of wool

wooled

ˈwu̇ld

adjective