Meaning & use
cotton sateen
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountabletechnical
A cotton fabric woven so that more thread lies on the surface, giving a smooth, soft feel and a gentle shine.
Grammar: Uncountable as a material: the sheets are cotton sateen. It is countable only when referring to types.
Patterns
- made of cotton sateen
- cotton sateen sheets
I prefer cotton sateen sheets because they feel silky but still breathe.
The dress was cut from cotton sateen and had a soft sheen.
Cotton sateen creases less than plain weave, although it can snag more easily.
Common combinations
- cotton sateen sheets
- Cotton sateen sheets feel cool and smooth.
- cotton sateen weave
- A cotton sateen weave has a subtle glow.
- cotton sateen duvet cover
- She bought a cotton sateen duvet cover in grey.
- made from cotton sateen
- The curtains were made from cotton sateen.
- soft cotton sateen
- Soft cotton sateen drapes well.
Synonyms and how they differ
- percale
- Percale is a plain weave that feels crisp and matte, while cotton sateen feels smoother and glossier.
- satin
- Satin is a weave usually made with silk or polyester filament, while cotton sateen uses cotton thread, so it is less slippery.
- poplin
- It is a lightweight plain-weave cotton with a firm texture and no shine.
Word family
Commonly confused: cotton sateen or cotton satin?
cotton sateen vs cotton satin
Cotton satin is often just another trade name for cotton sateen. True satin traditionally uses silk or synthetic filament.
Practice
Which fabric is a cotton cloth woven for a smooth, slightly shiny surface?
Choose one answer.
Cotton sateen is a glossy-feeling cotton weave. Flannel is brushed for warmth and has no sheen, a tempting bedding option that does not match.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cotton sateen”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.