Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,809,616,785 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

skein

   Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.05 sec.
skein  (skn)
n.
1.
a. A length of thread or yarn wound in a loose long coil.
b. Something suggesting the coil of a skein; a complex tangle: a twisted skein of lies.
2. A flock of geese or similar birds in flight. See Synonyms at flock1.

[Middle English skeine, from Old French escaigne.]

skein [skeɪn]
n
1. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Knitting & Sewing) a length of yarn, etc., wound in a long coil
2. something resembling this, such as a lock of hair
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) a flock of geese flying Compare gaggle [2]
[from Old French escaigne, of unknown origin]

Skein a flight of wild fowl, duck, or geese; a quantity of yarn; thread or silk taken from the reel.
Examples: skein of geese (in flight)—Brewer; of wild geese, 1851; of human affairs, 1797; of shadowy hair, 1874; of policy, 1884; of state politics 1831; of silk, 1628; of thread, 1440; of wool; of worsted, 1704
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.skeinskein - coils of worsted yarn                
hank - a coil of rope or wool or yarn
Translations
skein [skeɪn] Nmadeja f
a tangled skein (fig) → un asunto enmarañado
skein [ˈskeɪn] n [thread, wool] → écheveau m
skein
n (of wool etc)Strang m; (of geese)Schwarm m; (of evidence, lies etc)Geflecht nt
skein [skeɪn] n (of wool) → matassa
skein [skeɪn] n (of wool) → matassa


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Only after emptying a bottle or two did he feel dimly that the terribly tangled skein of life which previously had terrified him was not as dreadful as he had thought.
Bring with you a skein of silk every time that you come, and I will weave a ladder with it, and when that is ready I will descend, and you will take me on your horse.
He told us he was aware of the efforts young Rouletabille was making to unravel the tangled skein of The Yellow Room mystery.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.