silkiness
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɪlkinəs/
US
- /sˈɪlkinəs/
Description
- Smoothness
- Soft feel
- Glossy texture
Silkiness is not just about silk fabric. It describes a very smooth, soft, and often rich or pleasant feel. You might notice it in hair, skin, cloth, sauce, or chocolate. The word often suggests something fine, gentle, and easy to enjoy.
The word comes from "silk," but it is used for many things besides the fabric itself. A chef might want silkiness in a sauce, and someone might praise the silkiness of a skin cream or a piece of cloth. Sometimes it can also describe a smooth voice or graceful movement, though it is most often used for texture.
Silkiness describes a quality of great smoothness, softness, and often a light, rich feel. The word comes from the feel of silk fabric, but it is also used for other things that seem similarly smooth and pleasant. For example, you can talk about the silkiness of hair, skin, a sauce, or melted chocolate.
It is most common when talking about texture. Hair with silkiness feels soft and fine. A soup or sauce with silkiness feels smooth in the mouth, without lumps or roughness. In beauty and food writing, the word often suggests high quality and comfort, not just simple smoothness.
The word can also be used in a wider, more descriptive way. Someone may speak of silkiness in a voice, a movement, or a style when it feels flowing and gentle, without sharp edges or harshness. Even then, the idea still comes back to the same image: something as smooth and pleasing as silk.
Silkiness is not just about what something is made of, but about how it feels or seems. It gives a sense of softness, ease, and smooth beauty. In most cases, it is a positive word for a texture or quality that feels especially pleasant.
Examples
- 1
Hair
After the conditioner, her hair had a noticeable silkiness.
- 2
Soup texture
The soup gets its silkiness from the butter and cream.
- 3
Fabric
Even after many washes, the fabric kept its silkiness.
- 4
Wine tasting
The wine has a silkiness that balances its strong fruit flavor.
- 5
Voice tone
There was a silkiness in her voice that made the message sound gentle.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- silkinessnoun