cloth
gb/klˈɔθ/ us/klˈɔθ/
A2
English
~ 6300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
fabric material used to make things
Material like cotton or wool that is used to make clothes, bags, and other things.
Usage pattern:
[someone] buys [cloth] to make [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *a cloth* when they mean the material in general. Use *cloth* without *a* for the material (e.g., *This dress is made of soft cloth*, not *of a soft cloth*). They also confuse *cloth* (material) with *clothes* (things you wear).
Synonyms
fabric (Slightly more general and technical; used in fashion, design, and industry as well as everyday speech.)
Antonyms
metal (A hard, rigid material, contrasted with soft, flexible cloth used for making garments and coverings.)
Collocations
cotton cloth
|woollen cloth
|silk cloth
|roll of cloth
|piece of cloth
|heavy cloth
Themes
daily life
|shopping
|home
|clothing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She chose a soft blue cloth for the curtains.
- The tailor spread the cloth on the table and began to cut the pattern.
- This jacket is made from a very fine wool cloth.
- They import high‑quality cloth from Italy for their suits.
Learner examples
- He bought some red cloth to make a dress.
- The bag is made of strong cloth.
- We need more cloth to cover all the chairs.
- This cloth feels warm and thick.
Noun
A2
entity
2
piece of fabric for wiping
A small piece of cloth that you use to clean, dry, or cover something.
Usage pattern:
[someone] wipes [something] with a cloth
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *cloth* when they should say *clothes* (e.g., *I need new cloth* when they mean *I need new clothes*). They may also confuse *cloth* with *towel*; a towel is a special cloth mainly for drying the body.
Synonyms
rag (Often suggests an old or worn-out piece of cloth, sometimes dirtier or more casual than a regular cleaning cloth.)
Antonyms
sponge (A different type of cleaning tool made of porous material, contrasted with a flat piece of cloth.)
Collocations
wet cloth
|clean cloth
|soft cloth
|dish cloth
|dusting cloth
|wipe with a cloth
Themes
daily life
|home
|housework
|daily_life
|housing
Examples
- Wipe the table with a damp cloth before you set the plates down.
- He used a soft cloth to polish the glasses.
- Put a cold cloth on your forehead if you feel dizzy.
- She cleaned the windows with a cloth and some soapy water.
Learner examples
- She washed the car with a big cloth.
- Use a dry cloth to clean the mirror.
- I put a wet cloth on my face.
- Please bring me a clean cloth from the kitchen.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
the Christian clergy as a group
Christian priests and ministers as a group, seen as their job or class in society.
Usage pattern:
[someone] joins the cloth
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand *the cloth* as a literal piece of fabric instead of a formal way to talk about priests and ministers. The meaning is usually clear only from context and is most often seen with *the* (e.g., *the cloth*, *men of the cloth*).
Synonyms
clergy (The standard modern term; *the cloth* is more literary or formal and often slightly old‑fashioned.)
Antonyms
laity (Refers to ordinary believers who are not members of the clergy, the usual contrast to *the cloth* or *the clergy*.)
Collocations
men of the cloth
|members of the cloth
|enter the cloth
|the sword and the cloth
Themes
religion
|society
|relationships
Examples
- Several members of the cloth attended the memorial service.
- He surprised his family by choosing the cloth over a career in law.
- The scandal deeply embarrassed both the cloth and the wider community.
- Throughout history, the cloth has held significant influence in local politics.
Learner examples
- His father is a man of the cloth.
- She did not want to join the cloth.
- People in the cloth have special religious duties.
- The cloth often works closely with the community.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cloth
IPA
GB/klˈɔθ/
US/klˈɔθ/
Syllables & stress
cloth (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cloth)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cloth
- Plural: cloth, cloths
Word family
Expressions
cut from the same cloth
1/kˈʌt fɹˈʌm ðə sˈeɪm klˈɔθ/
idiom
very similar in character
To be very similar to another person in character, behavior, or style.
Examples
- Those two brothers are really cut from the same cloth.
- All the candidates seemed to be cut from the same cloth, offering nearly identical policies.
of the cloth
1/əv ðə klˈɔθ/
idiom
formal
belonging to the clergy
Being a Christian priest or minister.
Examples
- Several men of the cloth spoke at the charity event.
- Although he is of the cloth, he often criticizes the church’s leadership.
out of whole cloth
1/ˈaʊt əv hˈoʊl klˈɔθ/
idiom
completely made up and untrue
Completely invented, with no truth or real facts behind it.
Examples
- The rumor about the merger was made up out of whole cloth.
- Her explanation sounded like it was created out of whole cloth, with no connection to what really happened.