noun
- the process of soaking plant fibers (such as flax or hemp) in water to soften them and separate them from the woody stems
Usage: technical; textile industry
Examples
- The flax underwent retting in the pond for several weeks.
- Traditional retting methods involve submerging the plant material in water.
- Proper retting is essential for producing high-quality linen fibers.
- The farmer began the retting process after harvesting the hemp.
- Retting helps break down the pectin that binds the fibers together.
- Modern textile mills use controlled retting techniques to ensure consistency.