velcro

Everyday

1. Velcro is a fastener made of two strips: one with tiny hooks and one with tiny loops, which stick together when pressed and pull apart with a ripping sound. tree →
2. (informal) To velcro something is to fasten it with Velcro. tree →

In the lessons

In science and design lessons it is a famous example of biomimicry: the Swiss engineer George de Mestral invented it after studying burrs (seeds with hooks) stuck in his dog's fur. In everyday life it is on children's shoes, coats and bags. Phrases: «Velcro shoes», «Velcro strap», «hook and loop».

Examples

• My little brother has Velcro shoes because he can't tie laces yet. tree →
• Velcro was inspired by burrs stuck on a dog's fur. tree →
• One side of Velcro has hooks and the other has loops. tree →
• The Velcro strap on my bag makes a loud ripping sound. tree →
• Astronauts use Velcro to stop things floating away. tree →
• Look at Velcro under a magnifying glass to see the hooks. tree →

Note

It is a brand name, so it often has a capital V; the general name is «hook-and-loop fastener». Uncountable: some Velcro, a strip of Velcro. Myth: NASA did not invent Velcro, though astronauts used it.