Crinoline is a stiff, lightweight fabric or structure used to support a wide, disc-like silhouette in skirts and dresses, especially in the 19th century. It also refers to the stiffened undergarment itself. The term emphasizes the crimped, fullness-enhancing effect created by the interlaced fibers or horsehair beneath the fabric.
"The Victorian ball gown featured a towering crinoline that gave the dress its dramatic breadth."
"She wore a modern replica crinoline to evoke vintage elegance without the weight of crinoline hoops."
"Museum visitors admired the intricate construction of the crinoline under the bodice."
"Costume designers often use lightweight interlinings to simulate crinoline fullness on stage."
Crinoline derives from French crinoline, from crin (horsehair) and -line, reflecting the original stiffening material made from horsehair or stiffened fabrics used to create a voluminous skirt. The earliest forms of crinoline appeared in the early 19th century, with widespread popularity following the adoption of large hoop structures and crinoline petticoats that replaced earlier hoops. The word began appearing in English in the 1830s as fashion shifted toward a dramatic, bell-shaped silhouette. Over time, the term broadened to reference both the fabric the structure is made from and the garment itself, including modern synthetic equivalents used in costumes and bridal wear.
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Words that rhyme with "Crinoline"
-ine sounds
-rd) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Crinoline is pronounced as kri-NO-leen, with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ˈkrɪnəˌlaɪn/ in US and UK English. Break it into three parts: kri- (rhymes with 'crisp' but with a shorter i), no- (as in 'no' with a soft schwa preceding), and -line (like 'line' in English). Repeat slowly at first, then speed up while maintaining the three-beat rhythm.
Common errors include producing 'crinoline' as 'kreis-no-line' by misplacing the stress, or saying 'crimitives' by inserting an extra syllable. Also, speakers may reduce the middle syllable to a dull schwa too short, giving something like kri-NLIN. Focus on keeping the second syllable as a clear 'no' with a brief 'ə' before the final 'line' sound.
In US/UK, the word is three syllables with primary stress on the second syllable: kri-NO-line. US tends to reduce the first syllable slightly and keep a crisp final 'line' sound. UK often has a slightly more rounded vowel in the final 'line' and less rhoticity influence in some speakers' preceding consonants. Australian pronunciation mirrors British patterns but with a lighter final vowel and slightly flattened 'i' in the middle.
The challenge lies in the unstressed middle syllable and the sequence '-line' blending with '-lin' sounds, which can become '-lainn' to unfamiliar speakers. The i-vowel in the middle often shifts toward a short 'ɪ' and the final 'line' can sound like 'line' or 'lain' depending on accent. Practice by isolating kri-, NO-, line, then blend with fast transitions.
There are no silent letters in crinoline. All letters contribute to the syllables kri-nɔ-lain, with the 'e' at the end being part of the final 'line' diphthong pronunciation in most dialects. Focus on the three distinct phonemic chunks and keep the final 'line' as a crisp /laɪn/ in steady rhythm.
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