'Gossamer' definitions:
Definition of 'gossamer'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy; "this smallest and most ethereal of birds"; "gossamer shading through his playing" [syn: ethereal, gossamer]
adjective
So thin as to transmit light; "a hat with a diaphanous veil"; "filmy wings of a moth"; "gauzy clouds of dandelion down"; "gossamer cobwebs"; "sheer silk stockings"; "transparent chiffon"; "vaporous silks" [syn: diaphanous, filmy, gauzy, gauze-like, gossamer, see-through, sheer, transparent, vaporous, vapourous, cobwebby]
noun
A gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture
noun
Filaments from a web that was spun by a spider [syn: cobweb, gossamer]
Definition of 'Gossamer'
From: GCIDE
- Gossamer \Gos"sa*mer\, n. [OE. gossomer, gossummer, gosesomer, perh. for goose summer, from its downy appearance, or perh. for God's summer, cf. G. mariengarr gossamer, properly Mary's yarn, in allusion to the Virgin Mary. Perhaps the E. word alluded to a legend that the gossamer was the remnant of the Virgin Mary's winding sheet, which dropped from her when she was taken up to heaven. For the use of summer in the sense of film or threads, cf. G. M[aum]dchensommer, Altweibersommer, fliegender Sommer, all meaning, gossamer.] [1913 Webster]
- 1. A fine, filmy substance, like cobwebs, floating in the air, in calm, clear weather, especially in autumn. It is seen in stubble fields and on furze or low bushes, and is formed by small spiders. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Any very thin gauzelike fabric; also, a thin waterproof stuff. [1913 Webster]
- 3. An outer garment, made of waterproof gossamer. [1913 Webster]
- Gossamer spider (Zool.), any small or young spider which spins webs by which to sail in the air. See {Ballooning spider}. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'gossamer'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- air,
- airy,
- animal fiber,
- artificial fiber,
- attenuate,
- attenuated,
- boyish,
- bubble,
- cambric tea,
- capillament,
- chaff,
- chip,
- cilium,
- cirrus,
- clear,
- clear as crystal,
- cobweb,
- cork,
- crystal,
- crystal-clear,
- crystalline,
- dainty,
- delicate,
- denier,
- diaphane,
- diaphanous,
- diluted,
- dishwater,
- down,
- downy,
- dust,
- ether,
- ethereal,
- fairy,
- feather,
- fiber,
- fibrilla,
- filament,
- filamentule,
- filmy,
- fine,
- fine-drawn,
- fine-grained,
- finespun,
- flagellum,
- flimsy,
- flue,
- fluff,
- fluffy,
- foam,
- frail,
- froth,
- fuzz,
- fuzzy,
- gauzy,
- girlish,
- gossamery,
- gracile,
- gruel,
- hair,
- hank,
- house of cards,
- insubstantial,
- lacy,
- light,
- light-pervious,
- limpid,
- lucid,
- matchwood,
- milk and water,
- misty,
- mote,
- nonopaque,
- papery,
- peekaboo,
- pellucid,
- pubescent,
- rare,
- rarefied,
- reed,
- refined,
- revealing,
- rope of sand,
- sand castle,
- satin,
- satiny,
- see-through,
- sheer,
- silky,
- skein,
- slender,
- slenderish,
- slight,
- slight-made,
- slim,
- slimmish,
- slinky,
- small,
- smooth,
- sponge,
- spume,
- strand,
- straw,
- subtle,
- suture,
- svelte,
- sylphlike,
- tendril,
- tenuous,
- thin,
- thin-bodied,
- thin-set,
- thin-spun,
- thinnish,
- thistledown,
- thread,
- threadlet,
- threadlike,
- transparent,
- transpicuous,
- unclouded,
- vague,
- velutinous,
- velvety,
- wasp-waisted,
- water,
- watered,
- watered-down,
- watery,
- weak,
- web,
- willowy,
- wiredrawn,
- wispy