# worsted

Pronunciation: say "WUUS-tid" /ˈwʊs.tɪd/

## Noun

1. A fine, smooth cloth woven from long-strand, combed wool yarn.
   - Simple: A smooth, tightly woven cloth made from long-strand wool yarn.
   - _His winter suit was tailored from a heavy gray worsted._
   - _The mill produced fine worsted for tailors across the region._
2. Yarn spun from long, combed strands of wool, with the fibers laid parallel.
   - Simple: Wool yarn made from long, combed pieces of wool.
   - _The knitter chose a fine worsted for the cardigan._
   - _Spinners comb the fleece thoroughly before twisting it into worsted._

## Adjective

Pronunciation: say "WUR-stid" US /ˈwɝ.stɪd/, UK /ˈwɜː.stɪd/

3. Beaten or overcome in a fight, contest, or argument.
   - Simple: Beaten or defeated, especially in a fight or argument.
   - _The worsted challenger conceded the match gracefully._
   - _Worsted in debate, the senator withdrew his proposal._

## Verb

Pronunciation: say "WUR-stid" US /ˈwɝ.stɪd/, UK /ˈwɜː.stɪd/

4. Simple past and past participle of worst. — simple past and past participle of worst
   - Simple: Past tense and past participle of worst. Use it for the past, or after has, have, had, is, was or were.
   - _The champion worsted every opponent in the tournament._
   - _Their forces worsted the invaders at the border._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2** — Inherited from Middle English worstede or worsted, from Worstede (now Worstead), a town in Norfolk, England, going back to Old English.
**Meanings 3–4** — This is the participle adjective formed from the verb 'worst.'

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/worsted (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).