nylon

UK: /ˈnaɪlɒn/ US: /ˈnaɪlɑn/ ,(nī′lon)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ny•lon /ˈnaɪlɑn/   n. 

1. Textiles [uncountable] a substance like thin plastic, made into fibers and sheets, usually tough, strong, and easily stretched, used esp. for yarn, fabrics, and bristles.
2. Clothing nylons, [plural] stockings made of nylon.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ny•lon  (nī′lon), n. 

1. Textiles any of a class of thermoplastic polyamides capable of extrusion when molten into fibers, sheets, etc., of extreme toughness, strength, and elasticity, synthesized by the interaction of a dicarboxylic acid with a diamine: used esp. for yarn, fabrics, and bristles, as for brushes.
2. Clothing nylons, stockings made of nylon, esp. sheer, full-length ones for women.

• coined as a generic by the du Pont Chemical Co. as distinct from known words and having no prior meaning or use, but with the suffix -on suggesting other textile fibers such as rayon 1938

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nylon / ˈnaɪlɒn/ noun

1. a class of synthetic polyamide materials made by copolymerizing dicarboxylic acids with diamines. They can be moulded into a variety of articles, such as combs and machine parts. Nylon monofilaments are used for bristles, etc, and nylon fibres can be spun into yarn
2. yarn or cloth made of nylon, used for clothing, stockings, etc

Etymology: 20th Century: originally a trademark

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

NYLON / ˈnaɪlɒn/ noun

1. a high-earning business executive who enjoys a transatlantic lifestyle, living part of the year in New York City and part in London

Etymology: 20th Century: from N(ew) Y(ork) + Lon(don)