fab ‧ ric /ˈfæbrɪk/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: fabrique , from Latin fabrica 'thing made, place where things are made' ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc SYN material :
our new range of fabrics and wallpapers
cotton/silk/synthetic etc fabric
printed cotton fabric
2 . [singular] the fabric of a society is its basic structure, way of life, relationships, and traditions
fabric of
Drug abuse poses a major threat to the fabric of our society.
The country’s social fabric is disintegrating.
3 . the fabric of something the fabric of a building is its basic structure, including walls and the roof:
the need to preserve the fabric of the church
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THESAURUS
■ for making clothes etc
▪ material noun [uncountable and countable] cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc:
She bought some pretty dress material.
▪ fabric noun [uncountable] cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc:
Man-made fabrics such as polyester are easy to wash and iron.
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furnishing fabrics
▪ cloth noun [uncountable] woven material, especially material made from natural substances such as cotton and wool, which has not yet been made into any other products:
The main trade was the production of woollen cloth.
▪ textiles noun [plural] formal a general word for all types of cloth – used especially when talking about the business of producing and selling them:
Textiles are one of Mexico’s main exports.
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the textile industry