Meaning & use
mercerized
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Describing cotton fabric or thread treated with a chemical process to increase its strength, luster, and ability to hold dye.
See it in a sentence
The label boasted that the shirt was made from mercerized cotton for extra sheen.
Mercerized thread is stronger and shinier than ordinary untreated cotton thread.
A note on using this word
The process is named after John Mercer, the English chemist who patented the treatment in the 1840s.
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