verb
- treats cotton fiber or fabric with sodium hydroxide to increase its strength, luster, and ability to take dye
Usage: technical; textile industry
Examples
- The textile mill mercerises the cotton before dyeing it.
- She mercerises the fabric to give it a silky appearance.
- The process mercerises the thread, making it stronger and more lustrous.
- Cotton that has been mercerised holds color better than untreated cotton.
- The factory mercerises thousands of yards of fabric daily.