/ ˈlɪnɪn; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
a type of cloth made from flax , used to make high quality clothes, sheets, etc. :
a linen tablecloth
2.
sheets, tablecloths , pillowcases , etc. :
( BrE )
a linen cupboard
( NAmE )
a linen closet
—see also bedlinen
•
IDIOMS
see wash verb
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English līnen (as an adjective in the sense made of flax ), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch linnen , German Leinen , also to obsolete line flax .