greasy wool: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Specialized)Technical/Industrial, Agricultural
Quick answer
What does “greasy wool” mean?
Raw wool from sheep that still contains the natural lanolin grease.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Raw wool from sheep that still contains the natural lanolin grease.
Unprocessed wool in its natural state, before scouring (washing) to remove the lanolin, suint (sweat salts), and dirt. It is the primary commodity in the global wool trade.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology is identical in both varieties. The industries in the UK (e.g., Bradford) and US/Australia/NZ use the same technical lexicon.
Connotations
Neutral industrial term. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in regions with significant wool production (UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA).
Grammar
How to Use “greasy wool” in a Sentence
The farm [verb: sold, produced, exported] greasy wool.Greasy wool [verb: contains, yields, weighs].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “greasy wool” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The broker will **greasy wool** grade the shipment.
- They **greasy wool** tested for yield.
American English
- The mill **greasy wool** processes thousands of bales.
- We need to **greasy wool** sample from each lot.
adverb
British English
- The fleece was sold **greasy wool**, straight from the sheep's back.
- It's weighed **greasy wool** before scouring.
American English
- The wool was bought **greasy wool**, not scoured.
- They trade it **greasy wool** as a standard practice.
adjective
British English
- The **greasy wool** clip was of exceptional fineness.
- **Greasy wool** prices are subject to global demand.
American English
- The **greasy wool** yield was better than expected.
- They traded **greasy wool** futures on the exchange.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in commodity trading, pricing (e.g., 'The Eastern Market Indicator for greasy wool rose 2%').
Academic
Used in textile science, agricultural economics, and history papers.
Everyday
Very rare. Would be used primarily by farmers, brokers, or textile engineers.
Technical
Standard term in wool classification, scouring mill operations, and fibre testing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “greasy wool”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “greasy wool”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “greasy wool”
- Using 'greasy' as a negative quality judgment (it's neutral).
- Confusing with 'oily' stains from machinery.
- Using 'fatty wool' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a quality judgment. It is the standard, unprocessed state of shorn wool. Quality is assessed by its fibre traits (fineness, length) regardless of grease.
The lanolin protects the fibre during shipping and storage. It is removed (scoured) by the processor as the first step in turning it into top, yarn, or fabric.
Technically possible but highly impractical. It would be dirty, sticky, smell strongly of sheep, and the lanolin would soil hands and needles. It must be cleaned first.
Price is based on 'clean yield'—the percentage of clean wool remaining after scouring—and the quality (fineness in microns) of that clean fibre. Greasy weight is the starting point for this calculation.
Raw wool from sheep that still contains the natural lanolin grease.
Greasy wool is usually technical/industrial, agricultural in register.
Greasy wool: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡriː.zi wʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡri.si wʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “From greasy wool to finished cloth (describing the full textile process)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GREASE-Y sheep needing a wash. The wool is 'greasy' with its natural lanolin before it's cleaned.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURAL STATE AS UNCLEAN: Greasy wool is the 'unrefined', 'raw material' before industrial processing purifies it.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary component that makes wool 'greasy'?