nylon
/ˈnaɪlɑn/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.42 in modern English
Meaning
noun
Originally, the DuPont company trade name for polyamide, a copolymer whose molecules consist of alternating diamine and dicarboxylic acid monomers bonded together; now generically used for this type of polymer.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A stocking originally fabricated from nylon; also used generically for any long, sheer stocking worn on a woman's legs.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A Queen's Counsel, King's Counsel or Senior Counsel who was appointed as a courtesy, rather than on merit.
Countable; Uncountable
name
New York-London, a reference to transatlantic life, people who spend time in both cities, or a transatlantic culture featuring both cities.
name
Alternative letter-case form of NYLON.
Example Sentences
- "I tore a hole in my nylons while walking home through the woods."
- "1970-1975, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure He put on make-up, nylons, panties, a dress."
- "What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons. You're born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈnaɪlɑn/
- British English: /ˈnaɪlɒn/