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floss

Syllabification: (floss)
Pronunciation: /flôs, fläs/
Translate floss | into French | into Italian
Definition of floss

noun

  • the rough silk enveloping a silkworm’s cocoon.
  • (also floss silk) untwisted silk fibers used in embroidery.
  • the silky down in corn and other plants:milkweed floss
  • short for dental floss.

verb

[with object]
  • clean between (one’s teeth) with dental floss:I flossed my teeth [no object]:you must floss well

Origin:

mid 18th century: from French (soie) floche 'floss (silk)', from Old French flosche 'down, nap of velvet', of unknown origin

floss in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of floss in the British & World English dictionary

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