darn

/dɑrn/

/dɑn/

Other forms: darned; darning; darns

To darn is to stitch up a small hole in a piece of clothing. Instead of throwing your worn-out socks away, you can just darn the holes in their toes.

When you darn your socks or sweaters, you use a needle and thread to close small holes in the woven fabric. There's even a specific stitch known as a "darning stitch," in which you first weave the thread with the grain of the fabric, and then fill in the other "woven" direction. The result is a sturdy patch made only of thread. Darn comes from the Middle French darner, "mend."

Definitions of darn

1. verb

   repair by sewing
   “darn socks”

   type of:

   bushel, doctor, fix, furbish up, mend, repair, restore, touch on

   restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
2. noun

   sewing that repairs a worn or torn hole (especially in a garment)
   synonyms: mend, patch

   type of:

   sewing, stitchery

   needlework on which you are working with needle and thread
3. noun

   something of little value
   synonyms: hoot, red cent

   type of:

   ineptitude, worthlessness

   having no qualities that would render it valuable or useful