Lint
/lɪnt/
nounA2
Definition
Lint means tiny pieces of fabric or thread that come loose from clothes or other materials. You often see lint on your clothes after washing or drying. It can also collect in places like dryer filters or on your sweater.
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See It in Action
Small fibers or threads that come off fabric
- •There was lint all over my black jacket after washing.
- •Clean the lint trap in the dryer to prevent fire.
- •The shirt had lint stuck to it after being in the laundry basket.
(Less common) A type of soft fiber used in making some fabrics (like cotton lint)
- •Cotton lint is collected before making thread.
- •The machine removes seeds from cotton lint before spinning.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "lint" like "dust," but from clothes—small bits that come off fabric instead of dirt from the air
- ✓Picture tiny white or colored fuzz balls or threads stuck on your sweater or socks
- ✓It's the feeling when your clothes look a bit messy because of these small fibers sticking out
- ✓Sounds like "lint" → imagine a little lint ball hitting your hand softly
- ✓Remember when you pull a sweater and see small threads or fuzz coming off—that is lint
- ✓NOT like "dust" (from dirt or soil), lint comes from fabric fibers
- ✓NOT like "hair" (which grows from our body), lint comes from clothes or materials
- ✓NOT like "stain" (a mark or spot), lint is loose fibers that can be removed easily
Try Other Words
- •Fuzz: soft, small fibers or hairs (Use when describing soft fibers on surfaces, not only clothes)
- •Fluff: light, soft pieces of fiber (Use when the fibers are loose and very light, often floating in the air)
- •Fiber: a thread or filament from fabric (Use when talking about the material itself rather than loose bits)
- •Dust: tiny particles of dirt (Use when the small bits come from dirt, not fabric)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "lint" is a single root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: Comes from Old English "lint," meaning a small thread or fiber
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe small threads or fibers of cloth; the meaning stayed close to fabric fibers over time
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe small bits of fabric that come off clothes, especially after washing or drying
- •Interesting fact: Dryer machines have special filters called lint traps to catch lint and keep machines safe
Reflect & Connect
•How does lint affect the way you take care of your clothes or laundry?
•Can lint be useful in any way, or is it always something to remove? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.After drying my clothes, I found lint ___ all over my black sweater.
2.The dryer’s lint trap collects ___ so it doesn’t block the machine.
3.Lint is different from dust because it comes from ___, not dirt.
4.When you wear a dark shirt, lint can ___ very easily and be very visible.
5.To keep clothes clean, you should remove lint ___ washing or drying.
6.Cotton lint is used to make ___ before it becomes thread.
7.If there is too much lint in the dryer, it can cause the machine to ___ or stop working properly.