silken

silken — adjective

1. describes a surface, material, or body part that feels soft and smooth to the to

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a surface, material, or body part that feels soft and smooth to the touch, with a gentle shine similar to that of silk

例句

Minh brushed her grandmother's long silken hair before the wedding ceremony.

collocation: silken hair

The silken fabric of Ayesha's dress shimmered under the ballroom lights.

collocation: silken fabric

同義詞
  • silky

    more common in everyday speech; silken has a more literary or formal tone

  • smooth

    broader meaning; does not carry the shine or luxurious feel of silken

  • satiny

    specifically describes a glossy, smooth surface similar to satin fabric

反義詞
  • rough

    the opposite of a smooth surface

  • coarse

    describes a texture that is thick and uneven, the opposite of silken

文法句型

silken + noun describing a surface or fabric

用法筆記

Often used in literary or descriptive writing rather than everyday conversation. Focuses on the feel and appearance of a surface, not the material itself — contrast with silk (meaning 'made of silk').

常見錯誤

❌She bought a silken blouse for the party.
✅She bought a silk blouse for the party.
💡silken describes the texture or look, not the material the item is made from.
❌The kitten's silken fur was so soft.
✅The kitten's silky fur was so soft.
💡silky is more common than silken in everyday descriptions of animal fur.

2. describes a sound — especially a voice, musical note, or soft spoken tone — that

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a sound — especially a voice, musical note, or soft spoken tone — that is smooth, gentle, and pleasing to hear

例句

The pianist's silken tones filled the concert hall with warmth.

collocation: silken tones (describing music)

Eli spoke in a silken whisper that calmed the frightened child.

collocation: silken whisper

同義詞
  • silky

    more common for describing voices; silken is more poetic

  • smooth

    broader term; less specific to the warm, luxurious quality of silken sounds

  • mellifluous

    more formal; specifically describes a voice or music that is sweet and flowing

反義詞
  • harsh

    the opposite of a smooth, pleasant sound

  • grating

    describes an unpleasant, irritating sound

文法句型

silken + noun describing a sound or voice

用法筆記

This sense is less common than the texture sense and is used mainly in formal, literary, or poetic contexts. Silken carries a more refined tone than the alternative silky when describing voices or music.

常見錯誤

❌The engine had a silken purr.
✅The engine had a smooth purr.
💡silken is not used for mechanical sounds; it describes voices, music, or gentle natural sounds.