clothesbasket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Domestic
Quick answer
What does “clothesbasket” mean?
A basket used specifically for holding, carrying, or sorting laundry (dirty or clean clothes).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A basket used specifically for holding, carrying, or sorting laundry (dirty or clean clothes).
The term can metaphorically refer to a collection or source of domestic chores or household duties, though this usage is rare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The single-word compound 'clothesbasket' is archaic/dated in both varieties. In contemporary use, the concept is expressed as 'laundry basket' (dominant in both), 'clothes basket' (two words, slightly more common in UK), or 'hamper' (especially for a lidded basket).
Connotations
Evokes a traditional, perhaps rustic or old-fashioned image of domestic life.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern corpora. 'Laundry basket' is the standard term.
Grammar
How to Use “clothesbasket” in a Sentence
put sth in the clothesbaskettake sth out of the clothesbasketcarry the clothesbasketVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clothesbasket” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not used as a verb]
American English
- [Not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not used as an adjective]
American English
- [Not used as an adjective]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
May be used by older generations or in literary/descriptive contexts to evoke a specific time or setting.
Technical
Not used. 'Laundry sorting system' or similar would be preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clothesbasket”
- Misspelling as 'closebasket' or 'clothbasket'.
- Using it in formal writing where 'laundry basket' is expected.
- Pronouncing the 'th' in 'clothes' as /θ/ instead of the correct /ð/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be written as a single closed compound ('clothesbasket'), but this is now archaic. The modern standard is the two-word phrase 'clothes basket' or, more commonly, 'laundry basket'.
Historically, a 'hamper' often refers to a larger, sometimes lidded basket, originally for packing items like food or gifts. In modern domestic use, 'laundry hamper' and 'laundry basket' are largely synonymous, though 'hamper' may imply a more decorative or stationary container in a bedroom.
Pronounce it as /kləʊðz/ (UK) or /kloʊðz/ (US). The 'th' is voiced (/ð/), like in 'the', and the final 'es' is pronounced /z/. It sounds like the word 'clothes' on its own.
For active vocabulary, teach 'laundry basket'. 'Clothesbasket' can be presented as a historical or recognition-level vocabulary item, useful for understanding older texts but not for production in everyday conversation.
A basket used specifically for holding, carrying, or sorting laundry (dirty or clean clothes).
Clothesbasket is usually informal, domestic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms for this specific compound]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a basket that is FOR CLOTHES. It's a basket for clothes, so it's a CLOTHES-basket.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR DOMESTIC WORK (The basket physically contains the laundry, metaphorically representing the contained, cyclical task of washing).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST common modern term for a 'clothesbasket'?