Meaning & use
Turkish flannel
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountabletechnical
A soft, slightly fuzzy cotton cloth woven in a loose way, often used for towels, washcloths and warm clothing.
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' or 'some': a Turkish flannel, some Turkish flannel.
Patterns
- made of Turkish flannel
- a Turkish flannel towel
The hotel supplied a Turkish flannel washcloth in every bathroom.
She sewed winter pajamas from Turkish flannel because it felt warm and gentle on the skin.
This shop sells Turkish flannel by the meter for people who make their own clothes.
nouncountableBritish
A small square of this soft cotton cloth used for washing the face or body.
Grammar: Countable here, so it takes a plural: two Turkish flannels.
Patterns
- a Turkish flannel
- wash with a Turkish flannel
He bought a pack of Turkish flannels for the guest room.
Use a Turkish flannel with warm water to clean your face gently.
Word forms
| plural | Turkish flannels |
|---|
Common combinations
- Turkish flannel cloth
- The tailor ordered Turkish flannel cloth for the lining.
- soft Turkish flannel
- The baby blanket is made of soft Turkish flannel.
- Turkish flannel towel
- A Turkish flannel towel dries quickly and stays soft.
- made of Turkish flannel
- Her dressing gown is made of Turkish flannel.
- a yard of Turkish flannel
- He asked the assistant for a yard of Turkish flannel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- flannel
- The general word for this kind of soft brushed cloth; 'Turkish flannel' names a particular type, so use 'flannel' when the origin does not matter.
- cotton flannel
- Emphasizes the fiber rather than the style; it fits when you want to say the cloth is cotton, not wool.
- washcloth
- A small square for washing, not the fabric itself; use it when you mean the object, not the material.
Word family
- flannel noun
- Soft brushed cloth, or a small cloth for washing.
- flannelette noun
- A lighter cotton cloth with a brushed surface, similar to flannel.
- flannelly adjective
- Soft and slightly fuzzy like flannel.
Commonly confused: Turkish flannel or flannel? Turkish flannel or towel?
Turkish flannel vs flannel
'Flannel' is the general fabric; 'Turkish flannel' is a specific type of it, so the shorter word is broader in meaning.
Turkish flannel vs towel
A towel is a finished piece of cloth for drying; Turkish flannel is the material it may be made from.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Turkish flannel' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'A Turkish flannel' is the countable noun for the small washing cloth. Option 2 uses an adjective where a noun is needed, option 3 uses a plural after 'a', and option 4 is not a real word form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Turkish flannel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.