rayon
UK[ˈreɪɒn]US[ˈreɪɑːn]
n
A smooth textile fiber or fabric made from regenerated cellulose, such as wood pulp.
Etymology
The word 'rayon' is a 20th-century coinage, originating from the French word for 'ray' or 'beam of light'. It was adopted as a marketing term to describe the new synthetic fiber's shiny, lustrous appearance, which was meant to evoke the sheen of silk. The name was chosen to distinguish it from natural fibers and to highlight its manufactured, radiant quality. Its creation represents a deliberate branding effort in the history of textiles, using a metaphor of light to describe a material property.
Analysis
This word is a loanword and does not contain separable morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The dress was made from a lightweight, flowing rayon.
Viscose is the most common type of rayon.
She prefers rayon blends for their breathability and drape.