Meaning & use
polyester
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Meanings
noununcountable
A strong artificial material made from chemicals, used to make cloth, thread, and plastic containers.
Grammar: Uncountable when it means the material: made of polyester, not made of a polyester.
Patterns
- made of polyester
- a polyester blend
- 100% polyester
This jacket is made of polyester, so it dries very quickly.
The label says the fabric is a mix of cotton and polyester.
Most cheap T-shirts are pure polyester these days.
adjectivebefore a noun
Made of polyester.
Grammar: Always comes before a noun and is not gradable: a polyester dress, never a very polyester dress.
Patterns
- a polyester shirt
- polyester fabric
- polyester thread
She wore a bright polyester dress to the party.
Polyester curtains can keep a room cool in summer.
He prefers polyester socks because they last longer.
nouncountable or uncountabletechnical
A type of synthetic fiber or resin used in industry and clothing production.
Grammar: Countable in technical writing when talking about different types: modern polyesters are stronger.
Patterns
- a new polyester
- produce polyester
- recycle polyester
Chemists have developed polyesters that break down more easily.
The factory recycles polyester from old bottles.
Different polyesters are chosen for different industrial uses.
Word forms
| plural (technical) | polyesters |
|---|
Common combinations
- made of polyester
- The bag is made of polyester and feels quite light.
- polyester blend
- A cotton-polyester blend wrinkles less than pure cotton.
- 100% polyester
- The care label says 100% polyester, so wash it cold.
- polyester fiber
- Pillows are often filled with polyester fiber.
- polyester resin
- Boat repairs often use polyester resin.
Synonyms and how they differ
- synthetic
- A general word for anything made by chemical processes; polyester is one specific synthetic material.
- nylon
- Another artificial fabric, but smoother and often stretchier than polyester.
- plastic
- A broad word for man-made materials; polyester is one kind of plastic used mainly for cloth.
Opposites
Word family
- polyesteramide noun
- A related synthetic material used in specialist chemistry.
Commonly confused: polyester or polymer?
polyester vs polymer
A polymer is any large molecule made of repeating units, which can be natural or artificial; polyester is one particular polymer used for fabric.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'polyester' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Polyester' as a material is uncountable, so 'made of polyester' is right. 'A polyester' wrongly treats the material as a countable object, and 'very polyester' wrongly treats the adjective as gradable.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “polyester”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.