- a class of synthetic polyamide materials made by copolymerizing dicarboxylic acids with diamines. They can be moulded into a variety of articles, such as combs and machine parts. Nylon monofilaments are used for bristles, etc, and nylon fibres can be spun into yarn
- yarn or cloth made of nylon, used for clothing, stockings, etc
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ny•lon /ˈnaɪlɑn/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Textiles[uncountable] a substance like thin plastic, made into fibers and sheets, usually tough, strong, and easily stretched, used esp. for yarn, fabrics, and bristles.
- Clothing nylons, [plural] stockings made of nylon.
ny•lon
(nī′lon),USA pronunciation n.
- Textilesany of a class of thermoplastic polyamides capable of extrusion when molten into fibers, sheets, etc., of extreme toughness, strength, and elasticity, synthesized by the interaction of a dicarboxylic acid with a diamine: used esp. for yarn, fabrics, and bristles, as for brushes.
- Clothing nylons, stockings made of nylon, esp. sheer, full-length ones for women.
- coined as a generic by the du Pont Chemical Co. as distinct from known words and having no prior meaning or use, but with the suffix -on suggesting other textile fibers such as rayon 1938
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
nylon /ˈnaɪlɒn/ n
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
NYLON /ˈnaɪlɒn/ n
- informal a high-earning business executive who enjoys a transatlantic lifestyle, living part of the year in New York City and part in London
'nylon' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
blouse
- body stocking
- canopy
- chiffon
- fibre
- grenadine
- jersey
- net
- nylons
- organza
- phenol
- pillowcase
- polyamide
- racket
- rollerball
- sail
- screen process
- shell suit
- trace
- tricot
- Velcro
- velvet
- vest
- adipic acid
- adiponitrile
- Antron
- Astroturf
- azlon
- backpack
- bait casting
- barrel knot
- bolting cloth
- caprolactam
- Carothers
- carpet
- conversion
- dental floss
- fortify
- Gloria
- glove silk
- hair net
- hairweaving
- half-nylon
- illusion
- kissing cousin
- knapsack
- leader
- levulinic acid
- line
- marquisette