lingerie

lingerie, underwear

noun lahn-zhuh-REE Rare

Also means

linen room (in a hotel or hospital)

Usage Note

lingerie in French refers both to women's underwear and to the room or area in a hotel or institution where linen is stored and laundered. In retail contexts it specifically means fine undergarments. The word was borrowed directly into English with only the underwear sense retained. A shop selling it is also called une lingerie.

Examples

"Elle cherche une lingerie en soie."

Natural Translation

She is looking for silk lingerie.

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