gossamer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, poetic, descriptive. Found in both formal and informal registers when aiming for vivid description.
Quick answer
What does “gossamer” mean?
a very fine, filmy, delicate material or substance, like fine spider silk.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a very fine, filmy, delicate material or substance, like fine spider silk.
Something extremely light, delicate, thin, or insubstantial in appearance or texture; also used metaphorically for something fragile, ethereal, or barely perceptible.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is equally poetic and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of extreme delicacy and fragility.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties, slightly more likely to be encountered in literary or artistic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gossamer” in a Sentence
[Adj] gossamergossamer of [N]gossamer-likeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gossamer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Gossamer is not used as a verb.]
American English
- [Gossamer is not used as a verb.]
adverb
British English
- [Gossamer is not used as an adverb; 'gossamer-thin' functions as a compound adjective.]
American English
- [Gossamer is not used as an adverb; 'gossamer-light' functions as a compound adjective.]
adjective
British English
- Her dress was a gossamer confection of silk and lace.
- A gossamer mist clung to the valley at dawn.
American English
- She wore a gossamer scarf that floated in the breeze.
- The argument rested on a gossamer thread of evidence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, except in literary or art criticism texts.
Everyday
Rare; used for poetic effect or vivid description.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gossamer”
- Mispronunciation: /ɡoʊˈseɪmər/ (incorrect). Spelling: 'gosamer' (missing an 's'). Overuse in non-poetic contexts where 'fine', 'light', or 'thin' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, metaphorically. E.g., 'a gossamer thread of hope', 'a gossamer connection between events'.
No, it is a low-frequency, literary word. Most learners will not need it for everyday communication but may encounter it in literature.
From Middle English 'gossomer', likely from 'goose' + 'summer', perhaps referring to St. Martin's summer (early November) when geese were eaten and fine spider webs were seen.
Not typically. It refers to texture and weight, not colour. However, it can imply a pale, translucent quality associated with certain colours.
a very fine, filmy, delicate material or substance, like fine spider silk.
Gossamer is usually literary, poetic, descriptive. found in both formal and informal registers when aiming for vivid description. in register.
Gossamer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɒsəmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɑːsəmər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The word itself functions as a near-idiomatic descriptor.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a spider's web glistening with morning dew — it's GOSsamer, thin as GOSSip and as light as a feather.
Conceptual Metaphor
DELICACY IS GOSSAMER, FRAGILITY IS GOSSAMER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as 'gossamer'?