yarn

1 of 2

noun

ˈyärn 

1

a

: a continuous often plied strand composed of either natural or man-made fibers or filaments and used in weaving and knitting to form cloth

b

: a similar strand of another material (such as metal, glass, or plastic)

2

[from the idiom spin a yarn "to tell a tale"] : a narrative of adventures

especially : a tall tale

a roaring good yarn

yarn

2 of 2

verb

yarned; yarning; yarns

intransitive verb

: to tell a yarn

yarner noun

Synonyms

Noun

• anecdote
• story
• tale

Examples of yarn in a Sentence

Noun

The sheep's wool will be spun into yarn.

yarns about ghosts and goblins

a storyteller who spins yarns that will keep any audience riveted

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Heimann avoided cardigans with fusty suede elbow patches or hefty yarn that can invoke infirm geriatrics. —Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

But with this adventurous yarn of back alley deals and rooftop escapes, Grossman challenges the narrative of the Jewish pawnbroker in history, illustrating how prejudice marginalized and villainized an entire group of people. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Verb

Reconciliation Week often inspired little more than sarcastic quips, side-eyes and giggles while yarning in our cramped family living room, the waiting areas of our local Aboriginal Medical Service and the common areas at University Indigenous institutes. —Phoebe McIlwraith, refinery29.com, 30 May 2024

Notably, the company has complete control of its entire production supply chain from the fleece to yarn to ensure and certify the quality and craftsmanship of its fabrics. —WWD, 9 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English yerne, yarne "spun fiber," going back to Old English gearn, going back to Germanic *garna- (whence also Middle Dutch gaern, garen "spun fiber," Old High German & Old Norse garn), masculine noun probably from the same base as feminine *garnō "intestine" (whence Old Norse gǫrn, plural garnar "guts") and *garnja- (in Old English micgern, midirne "fat around the entrails of an animal," Old Saxon midgarni, Old High German mittigarni, with *midja- mid entry 1), going back to Indo-European *ǵhorH-n- (whence also Lithuanian žarnà "intestine" and Greek khordḗ "catgut, string of a musical instrument, sausage," in plural "guts, tripe," if altered from *khornḗ), suffixed o-grade derivative of *ǵhr̥H- "gut, cord made from animal intestines," whence Latin haru- "intestines" (in haruspex haruspex), Sanskrit híraḥ "band, strip," hirā́ "vein"

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing yarn

• spun yarn
• yarn-dye

Kids Definition

yarn

1 of 2 noun

ˈyärn 

1

a

: a natural or manufactured fiber (as cotton, wool, or rayon) formed as a continuous strand for use in knitting or weaving

b

: a similar strand of another material (as metal, glass, or plastic)

2

: an interesting or exciting story

yarn

2 of 2 verb

: to tell a yarn