Gauze is a light, open-weavehaving spaces between threads so air and light pass through material. It can refer to a sheervery thin and delicate; partly see-through fabric used for veils or net-like material, and it also refers to the cotton cloth used in medical bandagesstrips of cloth wrapped around injuries to protect them and dressings.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ɡɔz/
Easy pronunciation: GAWZ (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, so the single syllable is stressed.
Cloth sense: a thin, open-weave fabric.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Gauze Meaning
a thin, see-through fabric with holes or an open weave
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a net of transparent fabric with a loose open weave
Example: She wore a dress made of pale blue gauze.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- netting — Works well for the open, net-like fabric sense.
- veiling — Can work for sheer decorative fabric, but it is narrower and more specific.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Gauze
Meaning 2
a plain cotton cloth used for medical bandages and dressings
Part of speech: noun
Definition: (medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings
Example: The nurse wrapped the cut with gauze.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- gauze bandage — A direct match for the medical dressing sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Gauze Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- netting
- veiling
medical cloth used for bandages and dressings
- gauze bandage
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using gauze to mean any thin cloth; it usually refers to a very open, sheer fabric or a medical dressing.
- Mixing up the fashion/fabric sense with the medical bandage sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gauze mean?
Gauze usually means a thin, open-weave fabric. It can also mean the cotton cloth used for bandages and dressings.
What are the synonyms of gauze?
For the fabric sense, close synonyms include netting and sometimes veiling. For the medical sense, gauze bandage is the closest match.
Is gauze always a medical word?
No. It can also refer to a sheer, open-weave fabric used in clothing or decoration.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.