yarn

Everyday

1. Yarn is long thread made of wool, cotton or other fibre, used for knitting, crocheting and weaving. tree →
2. (informal) A yarn is a long story, often one that is exciting or not quite true. tree →
3. (informal, Australia/NZ) A yarn is a chat; to yarn means to talk for a while in a friendly way. tree →

In the lessons

In crafts lessons and stories yarn is what you knit with; a ball of yarn has a length that maths problems may share between people. In stories, «spin a yarn» means to tell a long, perhaps made-up tale. In Australian and New Zealand speech, «have a yarn» means have a chat. Phrases: «a ball of yarn», «spin a yarn», «have a yarn».

Examples

• Gran bought blue yarn to knit me a scarf. tree →
• The kitten played with a ball of yarn. tree →
• A ball of yarn is 60 metres long; how many 4-metre pieces can you cut? tree →
• Grandpa spun us a yarn about a giant fish. tree →
• Come over and have a yarn with us, mate. (Australia) tree →
• We sat on the porch yarning till dark. (Australia/NZ) tree →
• The rug is woven from thick wool yarn. tree →
• Habetrot soon overtook her, and placed the yarn in her hands. tree →

Note

Yarn (thread) is usually uncountable: «some yarn», but «different yarns» for kinds. A story yarn is countable: «a yarn, yarns». Do not confuse with «yawn» (opening your mouth when tired).

In Jewish tradition

In crafts lessons and stories yarn is what you knit with; a ball of yarn has a length that maths problems may share between people. In stories, «spin a yarn» means to tell a long, perhaps made-up tale. In Australian and New Zealand speech, «have a yarn» means have a chat. Phrases: «a ball of yarn», «spin a yarn», «have a yarn».

Examples

• I have decked my couch with coverlets, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt. (Writings PRO.7.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for thy wares; massive iron, cassia, and calamus, were among thy merchandise. (Prophets EZK.27.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Yarn (thread) is usually uncountable: «some yarn», but «different yarns» for kinds. A story yarn is countable: «a yarn, yarns». Do not confuse with «yawn» (opening your mouth when tired).