satin
satin — noun
1. a fabric woven so that one side is glossy and bright while the other side is not
a fabric woven so that one side is glossy and bright while the other side is not shiny; it may be made from silk or from cheaper man-made fibres.
Meera chose a deep blue satin dress for the wedding reception.
satin + noun: attributive use for clothing
The inside of the jacket was lined with smooth white satin.
lined with + satin (material as object)
Dewi tied the box with a wide satin ribbon and made a neat bow.
Satin sheets feel cool and slippery against your skin on hot summer nights.
The bride wore an ivory satin gown with tiny pearl buttons down the back.
文法句型
satin + noun (as modifier)
made of + satin
用法筆記
Uncountable — you cannot say 'a satin' to mean one piece of the cloth. Use 'a piece of satin' or 'a satin [garment]'. Often used as a modifier before another noun (satin dress, satin ribbon).
常見錯誤
2. a paint which, once dry, shows a gentle shine somewhere between a matt and a glo
a paint which, once dry, shows a gentle shine somewhere between a matt and a gloss finish.
We used white satin paint on the kitchen walls because it is easy to clean.
satin paint on [surface]: common usage phrase
The carpenter suggested satin paint for the window frames instead of gloss.
Lucía chose a soft grey satin finish for her bedroom walls.
Unlike gloss paint, satin paint gives a softer shine that hides small wall marks.
- semi-gloss paint
slightly more shiny than satin paint; a common American term for a similar finish
- eggshell paint
very low shine, less glossy than satin paint; common in US home decor
- matt paint
has no shine at all; the opposite extreme from gloss on the shine scale
- gloss paint
paint with a very shiny, reflective surface when dry
- matt paint
paint that dries with a completely flat, non-shiny surface
文法句型
satin + paint (compound)
satin + finish
satin + [colour]
用法筆記
This sense is common in British English for home-decorating contexts. In American English, 'semi-gloss' or 'eggshell' are more often used for similar paint finishes. 'Satin paint' is uncountable in general reference but can be countable when talking about types or brands ('a satin paint that dries quickly').
常見錯誤
satin — adjective
1. made from or covered with the smooth, shiny cloth called satin.
made from or covered with the smooth, shiny cloth called satin.
The dancer wore a long satin skirt that shimmered under the stage lights.
satin + clothing noun: typical attributive pattern
A satin cushion sat on the velvet chair by the fireplace.
Joon bought a dark green satin tie to wear to the office party.
Esme kept her grandmother's satin handkerchief in a small wooden box for safekeeping.
文法句型
satin + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — this adjective goes before the noun it describes ('a satin dress'). It is not used predicatively (do not say 'the dress is satin'; instead say 'the dress is made of satin'). No comparative or superlative forms.
常見錯誤
2. having a surface that is very smooth, soft, and slightly shiny, like the fabric
having a surface that is very smooth, soft, and slightly shiny, like the fabric satin.
The cat's black fur had a satin sheen that caught the morning light.
satin sheen: fixed collocation for lustrous surfaces
After using the new cream, Eliska's skin felt as smooth as satin.
as smooth as satin: simile pattern
The polished wooden table had a beautiful satin glow.
Amani's hair had a soft satin texture after the salon treatment.
The marble floor was polished to a satin-like finish that was not too flashy.
- silky
soft and smooth like silk; warmer and more touch-focused than satin
- glossy
very shiny, often reflecting light strongly; satin suggests a softer, more subtle shine
- lustrous
shining with a gentle, soft light; very close to satin but a more formal word
- sleek
smooth and glossy with a shape that appears elegant; used more for hair, cars, and design than for fabric
文法句型
satin + noun
as smooth as satin
用法筆記
This sense is figurative — it describes anything with a smooth, lustrous surface, not just fabric. Common in formal or literary writing about appearance and texture. Unlike sense 1, this adjective can be used both attributively ('a satin sheen') and predicatively ('her skin was satin').