cashmere
B2Formal and informal
Definition
Meaning
A fine, soft wool from the Kashmir goat, used for making high-quality, expensive clothing.
Any garment (sweater, scarf, etc.) made from cashmere wool; by extension, something soft, luxurious, or of high quality.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to the material itself, but metonymically used for items made from it. Often associated with luxury, wealth, and softness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. Both use 'cashmere' as the standard.
Connotations
Identical connotations of luxury, softness, and high quality.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[adjective] + cashmerecashmere + [noun]made of cashmereVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dressed in cashmere (meaning: appearing very wealthy/refined).”
- “A cashmere smile (rare, meaning: a soft, gentle smile).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in fashion retail and textile manufacturing contexts (e.g., 'The new line features 100% cashmere').
Academic
Used in texts on textiles, material science, or economic geography (e.g., 'The cashmere trade in Mongolia').
Everyday
Common in shopping and descriptions of clothing (e.g., 'I'd love a cashmere jumper for winter').
Technical
Specifics on fibre diameter (microns) and origin in textile engineering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She was casually cashmered in a cream jumper.
adjective
British English
- She has a lovely cashmere scarf.
American English
- He wore his favorite cashmere sweater.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This scarf is very soft. It is cashmere.
- My grandmother gave me a beautiful cashmere sweater for my birthday.
- Genuine cashmere is incredibly soft and lightweight, making it perfect for travel.
- The economic viability of cashmere production is threatened by overgrazing and climate change.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CASH-mere: Imagine paying a lot of CASH for something soft you can MERely touch.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY IS SOFTNESS / QUALITY IS FINENESS
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кашемир' (a type of fabric pattern, not the wool). 'Кашемир' in Russian is also a direct loanword, but ensure the context is about wool, not just a pattern.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'cashmir', 'casmere', or 'kashmere'. Using as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I have three cashmeres' – better: 'three cashmere sweaters').
Practice
Quiz
What is cashmere primarily known for?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a specific type of fine, soft wool from the undercoat of the Kashmir goat.
It is labour-intensive to produce, as each goat produces only a small amount of usable fibre, and the processing to separate the fine undercoat is delicate.
Cashmere should be hand-washed in cold water with a mild detergent and laid flat to dry to maintain its shape and softness.
Yes, 'cashmere' is sometimes used to describe soft, pale, neutral colors like beige, grey, or cream, evoking the typical colors of the wool.