satin

satin, lustrous silk in which the filling is so arranged as to bind the warp as seldom as possible and so spaced that practically nothing shows but the warp. Satin was first woven by the ancient silk weavers of China and was greatly desired by early Greeks and Romans. In the Middle Ages satin, known as zatoni (from the name of a Chinese town) and samite, was rare and costly and was used for churchly and royal garments. As the secrets of silk making were carried westward, splendid satins were woven in Genoa and Florence, then at Lyons and in England in the 15th cent. Modern satins are made in a great variety of fibers, including synthetic ones.

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satin

Fabric constructed by the satin weaving method, one of the three basic textile weaves. Satin weave superficially resembles twill but does not have the regular step in each successive weft that characterizes twills. Thus, there is no strong diagonal line, and the fabric is smooth-faced, with an unbroken surface made up of long floating warp yarns. Because satins are susceptible to the wear caused by rubbing and snagging, they are considered luxury fabrics. Satin is made in different weights for various uses, including dresses (particularly evening wear), linings, bedspreads, and upholstery. Though originally of silk, it may be made of yarns of other fibres.

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satin

a fabric of silk, rayon, etc., closely woven to show much of the warp, giving a smooth glossy appearance

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satin [′sat·ən]

(textiles)

A closely woven fabric with a glossy face and a dull-finish back made by carrying the warp (or filling) uninterruptedly on the surface over many filling (or warp) yarns; made of silk, polyester, or other fibers.