/ klɒθ; NAmE klɔːθ/ noun ( pl. cloths / klɒθs; NAmE klɔːðz/)
1.
[ U ] material made by weaving or knitting cotton, wool, silk, etc. :
woollen / cotton cloth
bandages made from strips of cloth
the cloth industry / trade
a cloth bag
➡ note at material
2.
[ C ] (often in compounds) a piece of cloth, often used for a special purpose, especially cleaning things or covering a table :
Wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
—see also dishcloth , drop cloth , floorcloth , tablecloth
3.
the cloth [ sing. ] ( literary ) used to refer to Christian priests as a group :
a man of the cloth
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IDIOMS
see coat noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English clāth , related to Dutch kleed and German Kleid , of unknown ultimate origin.