fabric
fabric — noun
1. A soft material that people turn into clothes, curtains, and covers for furnitur
A soft material that people turn into clothes, curtains, and covers for furniture by sewing.
Sora chose a soft cotton fabric for his daughter's summer dress.
cotton / wool / silk fabric — common collocations for material type
The sofa was reupholstered with a dark grey wool fabric that felt warm.
Liam ran his fingers over the silk fabric, admiring its smooth drape.
Hana bought several metres of striped linen fabric to sew new kitchen curtains.
- cloth
A more general term; 'cloth' often suggests a finished piece ready for use, while 'fabric' can include unfinished material.
- material
Broader — can refer to any substance, not just textiles; less specific than 'fabric'.
- textile
More formal or technical; often used in industry contexts ('textile factory', 'textile industry').
文法句型
fabric (uncountable) for general material
a + adjective + fabric (countable) for a specific type
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the material in general ('a roll of fabric', 'made of fabric'). Countable when specifying a particular type or kind ('a lightweight cotton fabric', 'many different fabrics').
常見錯誤
2. The basic framework of a system, organisation, society, or building, formed by t
The basic framework of a system, organisation, society, or building, formed by the essential connections that hold it together and allow it to function.
The scandal threatened to tear apart the social fabric of the small fishing village.
social / moral / political fabric — common adjectival collocates
Mira's research explored how digital communication reshapes the fabric of modern family relationships.
The earthquake cracked the very fabric of the old building, damaging its stone walls.
Community volunteers worked together to repair the cultural fabric of the town after the flood.
- framework
More concrete — suggests a visible or clearly defined structure; less metaphorical than 'fabric'.
- structure
More general — 'fabric' emphasises the interconnected, woven quality; 'structure' is neutral.
- makeup
More informal — describes what something consists of rather than how its parts connect.
- chaos
The opposite of an ordered, connected structure.
文法句型
the + adjective + fabric of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used with the definite article 'the'. Frequently followed by 'of' plus a noun ('the fabric of society', 'the fabric of the universe'). The adjective 'social', 'moral', 'political', 'cultural', or 'economic' often precedes it. When referring to a physical building, it means the walls, roof, and structural core rather than decorations or furniture.