WordGarden.iobatik
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈætɪk/
US
- /bəˈtik/
Meanings
Noun
cloth or clothing decorated with wax-resist dyed patterns
a wax-resist dyeing technique for making patterned textiles
Beyond the definition
Picture an artist applying melted wax to fabric in careful lines and loops. Then the whole cloth is dipped in dye, but the wax blocks the pigment, leaving those waxed parts untouched. That is the heart of batik. This centuries-old Indonesian technique creates vivid, layered patterns that often carry cultural and symbolic meaning. You can find it on clothing, home textiles, and even standalone art pieces. It is known for bold color, precise detail, and rich visual rhythm.
Batik is a technique rooted in Indonesian tradition in which wax is used to resist dye on cloth, usually cotton or silk. Artisans apply hot wax by hand with a canting, a small copper pen-like tool, or by using brushes and copper stamps (known as cap) for repeating designs. Once the wax is on the fabric, the cloth is dyed, and the wax-covered areas remain the original color. This can be repeated many times with different dyes and fresh wax layers to build dense, complex patterns.
The designs are more than decoration. Motifs often carry local symbolism, reflecting myths, religion, and nature. Regions across Indonesia developed distinct styles, from the diagonal parang motifs to the circular kawung pattern of four petals. Today, batik is both traditional and contemporary: it appears in ceremonial sarongs, fashion, and modern interiors, while the core process remains the same. If you see a beautifully patterned textile with raised texture and subtle wax traces, you are looking at the legacy of wax-resist dyeing in action.
Examples
- 1
Clothing
She bought a batik shirt at the market in Yogyakarta.
- Patternbatik + clothing item
a shirt, dress, or other clothing with batik fabric or patterns
- 2
Uniforms
The hotel staff wear batik on Fridays as part of their uniform.
- 3
Design style
The designer mixed traditional batik patterns with a modern style.
See also
Similar
- wax-resist dyeing
Contrast
- solid dyeing
Used with (collocations)
- batik fabric
- batik pattern
- batik dyeing
Explore
- resist dyeing
- tie-dye
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- batiknounverb