bed linen

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The sheets, pillowcases, and sometimes duvet covers that you put on a bed.

   Grammar: No plural and no 'a': you buy bed linen, not 'a bed linen'. Count sets with 'a set of'.

   Patterns

   • wash the bed linen
   • change the bed linen
   • a set of bed linen
   • fresh bed linen

   The hotel changes the bed linen every day.

   She bought new bed linen for the guest room.

   Put the clean bed linen in the top cupboard.

2. 2noununcountable

   Cloth goods for beds sold in a shop, considered as a product category.

   Grammar: Used like a mass noun when talking about shopping or business: the bed linen department.

   Patterns

   • the bed linen department
   • shop for bed linen
   • bed linen sale

   Bed linen is on the second floor, next to the towels.

   They sell bed linen in cotton and linen.

Common combinations

change the bed linen

We change the bed linen every Sunday.

fresh bed linen

The room smelled of fresh bed linen.

a set of bed linen

She packed a spare set of bed linen.

bed linen and towels

The cottage provides bed linen and towels.

wash the bed linen

I need to wash the bed linen before the guests arrive.

Synonyms and how they differ

sheets

More informal and often refers only to the flat and fitted sheets, not the pillowcases or covers.

bedding

Broader: it can include sheets, covers, blankets, and pillows, not just the linen.

linens

An older, slightly formal word for household cloth items including bed linen and tablecloths.

Word family

bed noun

The piece of furniture you sleep on.

linen noun

Cloth made from flax, or household cloth items in general.

Commonly confused: bed linen or bedding?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “bed linen”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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