denim

/ˈdɛnɪm/

/ˈdɛnɪm/

Other forms: denims

Denim is a kind of heavy cotton material that's used to make jeans.

Denim is usually dark blue, and mostly used to make durable work wear, like jeans and overalls. In some places, people call blue jeans denims. The word comes from a French phrase serge de Nîmes, "serge from Nîmes, France." "Serge" is a sturdy twill fabric, and Nîmes is a town where it was famously made. Denim was first used in American English around 1850.

Definitions of denim

1. noun

   a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
   synonyms: dungaree, jean

   type of:

   cloth, fabric, material, textile

   artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
2. noun

   (usually plural) close-fitting trousers of heavy denim for manual work or casual wear
   synonyms: blue jean, jean

   types:

   Levi's, levis

   a popular brand of jeans

   type of:

   pant, trouser

   (usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately

   workwear

   heavy-duty clothes for manual or physical work