archaic
: a watered mohair

moiré

2 of 2

noun (2)

moi·​ré mȯ-ˈrā How to pronounce moiré (audio)
mwä-
variants or moire
1
a
: an irregular wavy finish on a fabric
b
: a ripple pattern on a stamp
2
: a fabric having a wavy watered appearance
3
: an independent usually shimmering pattern seen when two geometrically regular patterns (such as two sets of parallel lines or two halftone screens) are superimposed especially at an acute angle
moiré adjective
or moire

Examples of moire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The oldest examples of moire at the Victoria and Albert Museum are scraps of dress fabrics from the early 1600s, featuring floral patterns on a silk moire background. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023 Try coupling moire with a bold print fabric, like using one on upholstery and another on drapes. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023 Look no further than the Les Forets wallcovering by Arte (shown here), while Nobilis introduced a new moire-like fabric in the motif in vibrant colorways. Parker Bowie Larson, ELLE Decor, 27 Jan. 2023 While in the audience for Roger’s fall/winter 2020 collection, Roach saw the moire and silk dress and knew immediately that Zendaya was the right client for the piece. Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'moire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French, from English mohair

Noun (2)

French moiré, from moiré like moire, from moire

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1660, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of moire was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near moire

Cite this Entry

“Moire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moire. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

moiré

noun
moi·​ré
mȯ-ˈrā,
mwä-
variants or moire
same, or
ˈmȯi(-ə)r How to pronounce moiré (audio)
ˈmȯ(ə)r,
ˈmwär
: a fabric (as silk) that has a shiny wavy-patterned surface
moiré adjective
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