fabric
gb/fˈæbɹɪk/ us/fˈæbɹɪk/
A2
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Material made from fibers
Cloth that is made by weaving or knitting threads together.
Usage pattern:
[adjective] fabric
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fabric' with 'factory' due to similar spelling, but they have unrelated meanings.
Synonyms
cloth (General term for woven or knitted material, often interchangeable with 'fabric'.)
|
textile (More formal or technical term, often used in industry contexts.)
Antonyms
raw fiber (Refers to unprocessed fibers, the opposite of finished fabric.)
Collocations
cotton fabric
|silk fabric
|fabric pattern
|fabric texture
|fabric sample
Themes
daily life
|fashion
|materials
|clothing
|daily_life
Examples
- The dress is made of soft cotton fabric.
- She chose a patterned fabric for the curtains.
- This store sells fabrics from all over the world.
- The tailor measured the fabric before cutting it.
- We need to pick the right fabric for the sofa.
Learner examples
- I bought red fabric to make a shirt.
- The chair has blue fabric on it.
- This fabric feels very soft.
- She likes to sew with silk fabric.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Basic structure of something
The main structure or system that holds something together, like a society or building.
Usage pattern:
the fabric of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use 'fabric' literally in this sense, forgetting it is figurative for structure or system.
Synonyms
framework (Focuses on the supporting structure, often metaphorical.)
|
structure (Broad term for how parts are arranged and connected.)
Antonyms
chaos (Represents a lack of structure or order.)
Collocations
social fabric
|moral fabric
|fabric of society
|fabric of reality
Themes
society
|politics
|architecture
|core_vocabulary
|science
Examples
- Corruption can damage the social fabric of a nation.
- The earthquake destroyed much of the city's fabric.
- Trust is essential to the fabric of any relationship.
- Education plays a key role in the moral fabric of society.
Learner examples
- Honesty is important for the fabric of society.
- The war hurt the social fabric of the country.
- Kindness helps the moral fabric of our community.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fabric
IPA
GB/fˈæbɹɪk/
US/fˈæbɹɪk/
Syllables & stress
fab - ric (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fab)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fabric
- Plural: fabric, fabrics
Word family
Forms
fabrics
noun
Related words
Advanced or less common
fabricator
noun
Expressions
social fabric
1/sˈoʊʃəl fˈæbɹɪk/
fixed phrase
Community relationships and institutions
The way people are connected and work together in a community.
Examples
- Volunteers help strengthen the social fabric.
- Poverty can damage the social fabric of a city.
the fabric of society
1/ðə fˈæbɹɪk əv səsˈaɪəti/
fixed phrase
Structure of a community or nation
The basic systems and relationships that hold a community together.
Examples
- Strong families are vital to the fabric of society.
- Economic inequality can weaken the fabric of society.