texture
gb/tˈɛkst͡ʃɚ/ us/tˈɛkst͡ʃɚ/
B1
English
~ 8400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
the feel of a surface
The way a surface feels when you touch it, for example smooth, rough, or soft.
Usage pattern:
the texture of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "texture" with "touch." "Touch" is the action ("Touch the wall"), while "texture" is the quality you feel ("The wall has a rough texture"). Another mistake is saying "a texture of smooth" instead of "a smooth texture."
Synonyms
surface (Often refers to the outside of something in general, while "texture" focuses on how that surface feels to the touch.)
Antonyms
smoothness (Refers to a surface quality with almost no bumps or roughness, often used as the opposite of having noticeable texture.)
Collocations
smooth texture
|rough texture
|soft texture
|bumpy texture
|grainy texture
|velvety texture
Themes
daily life
|senses
|objects
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The stone has a rough texture that scratches your skin if you rub it.
- I love the soft, fluffy texture of this blanket.
- The wallpaper has a raised texture that you can feel with your fingers.
- Her lotion improved the texture of her skin over time.
- The designer chose a fabric with a smooth texture for the curtains.
Learner examples
- The table has a very smooth texture.
- This rock has a hard, rough texture.
- The cat’s fur has a soft texture.
- Feel the texture of this shirt; it is very nice.
Noun
B1
entity
2
the feel of food when eaten
The way food feels in your mouth when you eat it, for example crunchy, soft, or creamy.
Usage pattern:
the texture of [food]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "taste" when they mean "texture." "Taste" is the flavor (sweet, salty), while "texture" is how the food feels in the mouth (soft, crunchy). For example, say "I don’t like the texture of mushrooms," not "I don’t like the taste of mushrooms" if the problem is the feel.
Synonyms
consistency (Commonly used for food and liquids; often overlaps with "texture" but can also refer to thickness or uniformity, not just how it feels in the mouth.)
Antonyms
mushiness (Describes food that is too soft and pulpy, often as an undesirable opposite to a pleasant or firm texture.)
Collocations
creamy texture
|crunchy texture
|chewy texture
|smooth texture
|light texture
|firm texture
Themes
food
|health
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- The soup has a smooth, velvety texture that feels wonderful on a cold day.
- I like the crunchy texture of fresh vegetables in my salad.
- Overcooking the pasta ruined its texture and made it too soft.
- This cake has a light, airy texture that almost melts in your mouth.
- The yogurt’s thick texture makes it very filling.
Learner examples
- This bread has a soft texture inside.
- I love the crunchy texture of this cookie.
- The rice has a hard texture because it is not cooked enough.
- The ice cream has a very smooth texture.
Noun
B2
entity
3
the complex character of something
The detailed and rich quality of something that makes it feel full and interesting, not simple or flat.
Usage pattern:
the texture of [an experience/thing]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse more basic words like "details" or "feeling" and not realize that "texture" suggests both detail and overall character. Also, this sense is usually uncountable: say "the texture of city life," not "a texture of city life" in most cases.
Synonyms
complexity (Emphasizes how many different parts or layers something has; "texture" stresses the felt quality and richness those details create.)
Antonyms
flatness (Suggests something lacking depth, variety, or interest, which contrasts with the rich, detailed quality implied by "texture.")
Collocations
the texture of daily life
|social texture
|rich texture
|subtle texture
|cultural texture
|the texture of the narrative
Themes
arts
|society
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The novel captures the texture of city life in the 1990s.
- Her writing has a rich texture, full of small observations and details.
- The film tries to show the social texture of the neighborhood, not just the crime.
- The director added scenes of everyday routines to give more texture to the story.
- Traveling by bus instead of plane lets you feel the real texture of the country.
Learner examples
- The book shows the texture of life in a small town.
- The movie gives more texture to the main character’s family history.
- The writer adds many details to create the texture of the city.
- The series shows the social texture of the school.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
the arrangement of musical layers
In music, the way different sounds or parts are put together, for example only one melody or many parts playing at the same time.
Usage pattern:
the musical texture is [adjective]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "texture" with "tempo" or "rhythm" in music. Texture is about how many parts and how they sound together, not how fast the music is or where the beats fall.
Synonyms
arrangement (A general word for how music is organized; "texture" refers more specifically to how many parts there are and how they interact at the same time.)
Antonyms
monophony (A technical musical term for a single melodic line without harmony, contrasting with more complex or layered musical textures.)
Collocations
thick texture
|thin texture
|dense texture
|transparent texture
|polyphonic texture
|homophonic texture
Themes
music
|arts
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The piece starts with a very simple texture, just a solo flute.
- As the orchestra enters, the texture becomes much thicker and more dramatic.
- The composer uses a light, transparent texture so the melody is always clear.
- In this movement, the texture changes suddenly from homophonic to polyphonic.
- The choir director asked them to sing more softly to balance the overall texture.
Learner examples
- At the beginning, the music has a thin texture with only one instrument.
- Later, more instruments come in and the texture becomes thick.
- The teacher asked us to listen to how the texture of the song changes.
- This piece has a simple texture, so it is easy to follow.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
5
a visual pattern suggesting surface
In pictures and computer graphics, a pattern or image that makes a flat object look like it has a real surface, like wood or stone.
Usage pattern:
[software/artist] applies a texture to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in computer graphics "texture" usually means an image file used on 3D models, not the real feel of a surface. Also, they sometimes say "pattern picture" instead of the more natural "texture."
Synonyms
pattern (A very general word; in graphics, "texture" specifically suggests a surface-like pattern used to give objects a realistic look.)
Antonyms
flat color (A uniform area of color with no pattern, used as an opposite to a detailed or realistic texture in visual work.)
Collocations
digital texture
|texture pack
|brick texture
|wood texture
|seamless texture
|high-resolution texture
Themes
technology
|art
|design
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The game designer downloaded new stone textures for the castle walls.
- Use a seamless texture so the pattern doesn’t show any lines when repeated.
- The artist added a paper texture to the background to make it feel less flat.
- You can change the wood texture on this 3D model with one click.
- Graphic designers often work with large libraries of textures for different materials.
Learner examples
- I need a wood texture for this 3D table.
- The wall looks more real after I add a brick texture.
- This program has many free textures you can use.
- He used a paper texture to make the poster look old.
Verb
B2
action
6
to give something a textured surface
To make the surface of something feel or look less smooth, for example by adding small lines, bumps, or a pattern.
Usage pattern:
to texture [something] [with/by]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only the adjective "textured" and do not realize there is also a verb "to texture." Also, they may say "make texture on" instead of the more natural "texture" as a verb ("They textured the wall," not "They made texture on the wall").
Synonyms
roughen (Focuses on making a surface more rough to the touch; "texture" can refer to adding any kind of surface detail, not only roughness.)
Antonyms
smooth (Means to make a surface even and free of bumps, which is the opposite of adding texture or making it more textured.)
Collocations
texture the surface
|carefully textured
|lightly textured
|digitally textured
|textured with lines
|texture the walls
Themes
art
|design
|technology
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The artist textured the background with a sponge to create a subtle pattern.
- You can texture the 3D model with a brick image to make it look like a real wall.
- They lightly textured the ceiling to hide small cracks.
- The stylist textured his hair to give it more volume and movement.
- The designer plans to texture the concrete walls so they don’t look too plain.
Learner examples
- The painter textured the wall to make it more interesting.
- You can texture this 3D cube with a metal image.
- The worker textured the ceiling to cover the marks.
- The hairdresser textured my hair so it is not so flat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
texture
IPA
GB/tˈɛkst͡ʃɚ/
US/tˈɛkst͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
tex - ture (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tex)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: texture
- Plural: texture, textures
Verb
- Base: texture
- 3rd Person Singular: textures
- Present Participle: texturing
- Past: textured
Word family
Forms
textures
noun
texturing
verb
textured
verb
Negative and opposite forms
textureless
adjective
Advanced or less common
textural
adjective
texturally
adverb
Expressions
rich in texture
1/ɹˈɪt͡ʃ ˈɪn tˈɛkst͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
having many detailed qualities
Having many small details and layers that make something feel full, deep, and interesting, not simple or flat.
Examples
- The film is rich in texture, with carefully drawn characters and settings.
- Her music is rich in texture, combining many different instruments and rhythms.
texture mapping
1/tˈɛkst͡ʃɚ mˈæpɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
applying images to 3D surfaces
In computer graphics, a way to put a flat picture onto a 3D object so it looks like the object has a real surface, like wood, stone, or metal.
Examples
- Modern games rely heavily on texture mapping to create realistic environments.
- He is learning texture mapping so he can add detailed surfaces to his 3D models.