Satiny

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Smooth and glossy in texture, resembling the soft and lustrous surface of silk fabric
2. Having a sleek, polished appearance with a gentle sheen that reflects light delicately
3. Possessing a delicate, lustrous finish that feels exceptionally smooth and soft to the touch

Etymology: Satiny is a straightforward formation: the noun "satin" with the suffix "-y", which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "having the qualities of" or "resembling" that noun. So satiny describes something with the smooth, glossy surface associated with satin cloth. The suffix itself is very old. It descends from an Old English form "-ig", which passed through Middle English as "-y", and it has been attached to nouns for well over a thousand years to produce adjectives such as "milky", "stony" and "windy". Satiny applies that same pattern to the fabric. The noun it is built on, "satin", is a separate borrowing, and its own history is a different matter. Once the base word is in place, the adjective needs no further explanation: it simply describes a surface that looks or feels like satin.

Synonyms: smooth, silky, glossy, sleek, soft

Antonyms: rough, coarse, harsh, bumpy, uneven