Top 100 Cashmere Vocabulary Words | Mongolia

A soft scarf is the end of a long sentence. Before the scarf comes fibre, sorting, cleaning, yarn, fabric and a series of decisions that a label may only partly reveal. This guide teaches 100 cashmere vocabulary words and terms in English, with meanings, natural collocations and original examples. You will learn to follow the material and ask clearer questions about quality, processing and traceability.

Mongolia makes that language useful because cashmere production connects herders, fibre knowledge, processing and international supply chains. FAO’s account links the material with the fine undercoat of goats and with the people and landscapes behind production. The setting invites a careful distinction: a soft handle, a named origin and a responsible-sourcing claim are different kinds of information.

Begin with ten terms from the material groups, follow the processing route, then try the original blend-and-yield exercise. “Top 100” means a curated learning selection rather than a frequency ranking. Most entries are general English and textile vocabulary contextualised through Mongolia. The invented batch records and labels are learning examples, not reports about a company, product or herder household.

Start by separating fibre, yarn and fabric

Imagine three images: loose fine fibres, a wound cone of yarn and a knitted sleeve. Can you explain what changed between them? Fibre names the basic strands; yarn is a prepared continuous strand; fabric is a constructed textile. Calling all three “wool” loses the process the reader needs to follow.

Now consider a label that says “cashmere blend”. Does it state a percentage, a country of fibre origin or a test result? The phrase alone does not answer all three. If the material route is unclear, start at groups 1–5. If a label seems to prove everything at once, begin with groups 7–8.

A parent or teacher can ask the learner to draw the route and explain one arrow. If the concept is clear in a familiar language but the English is missing, teach a phrase such as “spun into yarn”. If the arrow itself makes no sense, rebuild the material relationship first. Vocabulary becomes easier to remember when it has somewhere meaningful to go.

Contents: find a useful word group

Fibre, preparation, yarn and fabric: words 1–50

1–10: Identify the animal fibre

11–20: Measure a fibre before giving it a verdict

21–30: Follow sorting and cleaning

31–40: Turn prepared fibre into yarn

41–50: Describe fabric construction

Performance, records, people and explanation: words 51–100

51–60: Explain finish and performance

61–70: Read composition and quality information

71–80: Follow a supply chain without skipping a link

81–90: Keep people and landscapes in the material story

91–100: Explain the material route accurately

Worked example · Practice · Speaking and writing · Questions · Sources

Cashmere is associated with a particular part of a goat’s coat. These terms keep that material distinction visible.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
1	cashmere	The fine undercoat fibre obtained from cashmere-producing goats, or a textile made from it.	cashmere fibre	The label identified cashmere fibre rather than ordinary outer hair.
2	undercoat	The softer inner layer of an animal’s coat.	fine undercoat	The diagram separated the undercoat from the outer layer.
3	guard hair	Coarser outer hair protecting an animal’s coat.	coarse guard hair	The processing illustration distinguished guard hair from the fine fibre.
4	fleece	The coat or collected fibre covering of an animal; the precise use depends on context.	raw fleece	The record described the raw fleece before processing.
5	fibre	A fine strand forming the basic material of a textile.	animal fibre	The magnified image showed individual animal fibres.
6	keratin	A structural protein forming animal hair and related materials.	keratin fibre	The science note identified hair as a keratin-based material.
7	moult	The natural shedding of an animal’s coat; US spelling molt.	seasonal moult	The reading connected collection timing with the seasonal moult.
8	harvest	To collect a material produced by an animal or plant.	fibre harvest	The account described the fibre harvest as one stage of production.
9	combing	Drawing a comb through an animal’s coat to collect loose fibre, or a textile preparation process in another context.	cashmere combing	The source described careful cashmere combing in its training example.
10	shearing	Cutting an animal’s fleece or hair using appropriate equipment.	fibre shearing	The comparison distinguished shearing from collecting loose fibre by combing.

These terms explain the material route rather than prescribe animal handling. Collection methods, timing and welfare require appropriate knowledge. FAO’s dated Mongolia account describes training in careful combing and sorting; it should not become a claim that every household uses one identical method or has the same resources.

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One measurement is informative without being a complete quality score.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
11	diameter	The width of a fibre measured across it under a stated method.	fibre diameter	The test record gave fibre diameter in micrometres.
12	micrometre	One millionth of a metre; commonly called a micron in fibre discussions.	micrometre measurement	The learner checked the micrometre measurement rather than confusing it with millimetres.
13	fineness	The degree of smallness of fibre diameter.	fibre fineness	The report discussed fineness separately from fibre length.
14	length	The extent of a fibre from end to end under the measurement method.	fibre length	The sample’s fibre length was recorded alongside diameter.
15	mean	An arithmetic average calculated from a defined set of values.	mean diameter	The mean diameter summarised the measured sample.
16	variation	Differences among measurements or items.	diameter variation	The record considered variation rather than reporting only one average.
17	sample	A selected portion examined to learn about a larger batch.	representative sample	The reader asked how the sample had been selected.
18	microscopy	Examination using a microscope.	fibre microscopy	The laboratory account described microscopy for fibre examination.
19	identification	Determining what a material or item is.	fibre identification	The learner separated identification from a softness judgement.
20	contamination	Unwanted material mixed into a substance or batch.	fibre contamination	The record identified contamination in the raw material.

A low average diameter does not reveal every fibre in a sample, the finished fabric’s construction or the product’s full history. The Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute gives technical material definitions. This guide does not turn those definitions into an unsourced legal rule for every market or a universal ranking of garments.

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A raw batch and a cleaned batch can differ in mass and composition. Keep the stage named when comparing them.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
21	sorting	Separating material into groups using defined characteristics.	sort by colour	The fictional batch was sorted by colour before further processing.
22	grading	Classifying material according to stated quality criteria.	fibre grading	The record explained the criteria used for grading.
23	batch	An identified quantity processed or handled together.	processing batch	The sample number linked the test to its batch.
24	raw	Not yet processed to the stage being discussed.	raw cashmere	The chart began with raw cashmere.
25	scouring	Cleaning textile fibre to remove grease, dirt and other unwanted material.	fibre scouring	The process diagram placed scouring before yarn preparation.
26	dehairing	Separating coarse guard hairs from finer undercoat fibre.	cashmere dehairing	The illustration showed dehairing as a separation stage.
27	separation	The division of a mixture into distinct parts.	fibre separation	The learner distinguished separation from merely changing colour.
28	residue	Material remaining after a process.	processing residue	The record named the residue rather than assuming it had no further use.
29	yield	The proportion of a defined useful output obtained from a defined input.	processing yield	The exercise calculated yield at the stated processing stage.
30	recovery	The retrieval of usable material from an input or process stream.	fibre recovery	The comparison specified what counted as recovered fibre.

A lower mass after processing is not automatically evidence of poor work. Cleaning and separation change what is included. To judge a result, ask what entered, what was removed and what counted as useful output. The same denominator habit supports accurate laboratory reports and ordinary reading of production claims.

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These terms name intermediate forms and operations. They are useful even when you never intend to operate a textile machine.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
31	carding	Opening and arranging fibres using a carding action to prepare them for further processing.	carded fibre	The chart showed carding before the next preparation stage.
32	sliver	A loose continuous strand of prepared fibres with little or no twist.	fibre sliver	The illustration distinguished a sliver from finished yarn.
33	roving	A prepared fibre strand, often slightly twisted, used before spinning.	prepared roving	The process diagram placed roving before the yarn stage.
34	spinning	Drawing and twisting fibres into yarn.	spin into yarn	The fibres were spun into yarn in the fictional sequence.
35	yarn	A continuous strand of fibres or filaments prepared for textile construction.	cashmere yarn	The yarn was wound before knitting.
36	twist	The turns holding fibres or strands together.	yarn twist	The description related twist to yarn structure.
37	ply	One component strand of a plied yarn, or the number of such strands.	two-ply yarn	The diagram showed two yarn strands forming two-ply yarn.
38	plied	Made by twisting two or more yarns together.	plied yarn	The learner distinguished plied yarn from a single strand.
39	cone	A tapered holder on which yarn is wound.	yarn cone	The photograph showed several labelled yarn cones.
40	tension	The pulling force maintained in yarn or fabric during an operation.	yarn tension	The demonstration kept yarn tension controlled.

Ply count describes construction, not an automatic ladder of quality. Fibre characteristics, yarn structure, fabric construction and finishing all contribute to the result. A confident sentence should therefore say what the number means before claiming what it guarantees. More strands can change weight and appearance without settling every question about performance.

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Knitted and woven textiles organise yarn differently. Naming that structure makes a garment description more useful.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
41	knitting	Forming fabric through intermeshed loops of yarn.	knitted fabric	The sleeve’s knitted fabric showed rows of loops.
42	weaving	Forming fabric by interlacing yarn systems, typically warp and weft.	woven fabric	The diagram contrasted woven fabric with knitted loops.
43	stitch	A unit of looped or sewn thread structure, depending on the textile process.	knitted stitch	The enlarged image showed one knitted stitch.
44	gauge	A measure describing needle spacing or stitch fineness under a stated knitting convention.	knitting gauge	The record defined the gauge before comparing samples.
45	course	A row of loops running across knitted fabric.	stitch course	The learner traced a course across the sample.
46	wale	A column of loops running along knitted fabric.	stitch wale	The learner followed a wale vertically in the diagram.
47	warp	The lengthwise yarn system in a woven textile.	warp yarn	The drawing labelled the warp yarns along the fabric.
48	weft	The yarn system crossing the warp in a woven textile.	weft yarn	The weft yarn passed across the illustrated warp.
49	rib	A knitted structure with alternating raised columns created by its stitch arrangement.	ribbed cuff	The cuff used a rib structure in the fictional garment.
50	seam	A join connecting pieces of fabric.	garment seam	The photograph distinguished the seam from the surrounding fabric.

Gauge needs its convention. A machine gauge and a hand-knitting stitch count are related practical measures, but they should not be compared as though the same number always means the same fabric. The beginner’s task is to ask what was counted and over which distance.

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A tactile description is valuable, but it is still a description of a particular sample under particular conditions.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
51	finishing	Processes applied after fabric formation to obtain desired appearance or performance.	fabric finishing	The account distinguished finishing from spinning.
52	dyeing	Adding colour to fibre, yarn or fabric through a dyeing process.	yarn dyeing	The chart identified yarn dyeing at the named stage.
53	brushing	Raising or arranging surface fibres through controlled mechanical action.	brushed surface	The sample had a brushed surface in the illustration.
54	handle	The way a textile feels when touched; a specialist textile noun.	soft handle	The learner described the handle without treating touch as fibre identification.
55	loft	The fullness or air-containing volume of a textile or fibre assembly.	fabric loft	The description considered loft alongside fabric weight.
56	drape	The way a textile hangs and falls under its own weight.	fluid drape	The scarf’s drape changed when it was folded.
57	elasticity	The ability to return toward the original form after a force is removed.	fabric elasticity	The exercise distinguished elasticity from simply being stretchable.
58	pilling	Formation of small balls of entangled fibres on a textile surface.	surface pilling	The condition note recorded pilling after the stated use period.
59	abrasion	Wear caused by rubbing or friction.	abrasion resistance	The test account named the method used for abrasion resistance.
60	shrinkage	A reduction in dimensions under specified conditions.	dimensional shrinkage	The record measured shrinkage after the stated test.

No single adjective tells the whole product story. Softness does not independently verify composition, origin or responsible sourcing. Nor does a photograph establish how a garment will behave over years. Use measured or documented claims within their scope and follow the actual care information for a real item.

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A label can answer a precise question without answering every question you have about the product.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
61	blend	A mixture of two or more fibre types.	cashmere blend	The fictional label identified a cashmere blend.
62	composition	The materials and proportions making up a product.	fibre composition	The learner checked the stated fibre composition.
63	percentage	A proportion expressed per hundred.	percentage by mass	The exercise used percentage by mass for the blend.
64	purity	The extent to which a material consists of the named substance under a defined meaning.	material purity	The discussion separated purity from softness.
65	label	Information attached to or associated with a product.	composition label	The label supplied percentages but no test result.
66	specification	A statement of requirements for a material or product.	fibre specification	The reviewer compared the result with the specification.
67	test report	A record of examination methods, specimens and results.	laboratory test report	The reader checked which sample the test report covered.
68	tolerance	A permitted variation from a requirement or stated value.	specified tolerance	The example referred to the tolerance in its fictional specification.
69	verification	Checking a claim against relevant evidence.	independent verification	The learner asked what evidence supported verification of the claim.
70	nonconformity	Failure to meet a specified requirement.	record a nonconformity	The exercise linked the nonconformity with the stated requirement.

“Cashmere blend” alone does not specify a proportion. “Made in” identifies a manufacturing claim within its applicable context, not necessarily the origin of every fibre. If a task needs a legal labelling judgement, use the relevant current jurisdiction’s rules. This article teaches the reading distinctions without presenting itself as a legal guide.

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Different stages may take place in different locations. Traceability concerns the records connecting them.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
71	supply chain	The connected stages through which material and products move.	cashmere supply chain	The project traced the cashmere supply chain from collection to garment.
72	traceability	The ability to follow material or products through linked records.	fibre traceability	The batch identifier supported traceability.
73	origin	The place or source from which something comes, with the relevant stage specified.	fibre origin	The learner distinguished fibre origin from the place of knitting.
74	processor	A person or organisation transforming raw material into another form.	fibre processor	The diagram placed the processor between collection and yarn supply.
75	manufacturer	A person or organisation making products.	garment manufacturer	The record identified the garment manufacturer separately.
76	supplier	A person or organisation providing material, goods or services.	yarn supplier	The buyer requested the record from the yarn supplier.
77	retailer	A business selling goods to final customers.	garment retailer	The discussion distinguished the retailer from the fibre producer.
78	certification	Formal confirmation under a specified scheme and scope.	scheme certification	The reader checked what the certification covered.
79	audit	A systematic examination against defined criteria.	supply-chain audit	The account identified the criteria used for the audit.
80	chain of custody	The documented sequence of possession or control through relevant stages.	chain-of-custody record	The chain of custody linked the identified batch through successive holders.

A certificate’s scope matters as much as its presence. Ask which organisation, product, batch, activity and period it covers. A responsible-sourcing claim should not be expanded into a claim about every possible environmental or social outcome. Specific evidence makes the discussion more useful to readers and fairer to the people doing the work.

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These terms connect a finished product with work and resources without reducing Mongolia to one occupation or lifestyle.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
81	herder	A person caring for and managing livestock.	cashmere goat herder	The account credited the herder’s material knowledge.
82	livelihood	The means by which a person supports life and household needs.	herder livelihood	The discussion considered the livelihood behind the supply chain.
83	cooperative	An organisation jointly owned or managed by members for shared purposes.	producer cooperative	The fictional cooperative kept the batches separately identified.
84	value chain	The stages contributing economic or practical value to a product or service.	cashmere value chain	The value chain included fibre preparation, yarn production and garment making.
85	resource	A material, service or capacity used for a purpose.	natural resource	The paragraph identified the resource under discussion.
86	rangeland	Land supporting vegetation used for grazing by livestock or wildlife.	rangeland management	The source connected rangeland management with fibre production.
87	grazing pressure	The demand placed on vegetation through grazing in a defined setting.	local grazing pressure	The account discussed grazing pressure alongside environmental conditions.
88	animal welfare	The condition and well-being of animals, assessed using relevant criteria.	animal welfare practice	The training account included animal welfare alongside fibre quality.
89	recycled fibre	Fibre recovered from existing material for use again under a defined process.	recycled cashmere fibre	The label distinguished recycled fibre from newly collected fibre.
90	durability	The ability to retain useful performance through use under stated conditions.	garment durability	The discussion separated durability from an initial softness impression.

FAO’s 2024 feature describes cashmere-related livelihood and environmental pressures alongside support for herder organisations. It is a dated account, not a claim about every household or a current count of all participants. Mongolia’s communities and occupations are varied; a material supply chain should keep those people visible rather than turn them into a single romantic picture.

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The final verbs support process writing and evidence-based comparison in many subjects.

No.	Word or term	Meaning and usage	Natural collocation	Original example
91	collect	To gather material for a purpose.	collect loose fibre	The diagram began with collecting fibre.
92	classify	To place material in a defined category.	classify a sample	The fictional record classified the sample by the stated criterion.
93	remove	To take material away from a mixture or surface.	remove coarse hair	The dehairing stage removed coarse hair from the finer material.
94	align	To arrange elements in a common direction or relationship.	align the fibres	The illustration showed fibres becoming more aligned.
95	combine	To bring materials or elements together.	combine fibre types	The blend combined two fibre types in stated proportions.
96	transform	To change form, structure or function.	transform fibre into yarn	Spinning transformed the prepared fibre into yarn.
97	retain	To keep material, a property or information.	retain a batch record	The processor retained the batch record in the exercise.
98	substantiate	To support a claim with relevant evidence.	substantiate an origin claim	The learner asked which records substantiated the origin claim.
99	compare	To examine differences and similarities on a stated basis.	compare processing stages	The paragraph compared the same stage in both batches.
100	qualify	To limit a statement so that it matches its evidence.	qualify a quality claim	The writer qualified the claim with the test’s scope.

A process paragraph is strongest when every arrow has a clear meaning: collect → sort → clean and separate → prepare → spin → construct fabric. Real routes vary, so identify the one your source describes. The structure helps the reader understand the sequence without claiming that every product follows an identical factory journey.

Contents · Previous group · Use the words

Worked label exercise: composition and yield answer different questions

Here are two invented records. Label A describes a 200 g textile as 70% cashmere and 30% wool by mass. Processing record B describes a separate 20 kg raw input from which 8 kg of the defined fine-fibre output is obtained. The records concern different materials and stages; do not silently join them into one product history.

For A, the stated cashmere mass is 200 × 0.70 = 140 g and the stated wool mass is 200 × 0.30 = 60 g. The calculation explains the label’s proportions. It does not verify that the label is accurate, identify the fibre origin or establish how the textile was manufactured.

For B, yield at the stated stage is 8 ÷ 20 × 100 = 40%. That is a processing ratio, not a claim that the resulting output is “40% cashmere”. Composition asks what the material contains; yield asks how a defined output compares with a defined input. Both use percentages, but their denominators mean different things.

The remaining 12 kg should not automatically be called useless waste. The record has not told us everything included in the input or the destination of separated material. A careful sentence says, “Eight kilograms of the defined output were obtained from twenty kilograms of raw input.” Ask for the rest of the material account before adding a verdict.

Now change label A to a 150 g textile while keeping the same composition. It contains a stated 105 g of cashmere and 45 g of wool. The percentage has not changed, but the absolute masses have. Change B’s output to 10 kg with the same 20 kg input and yield becomes 50%. These controlled changes test whether the learner understands the quantities rather than matching a familiar number.

An original supply-chain conversation

“The label says the garment was made in country X,” says Saran in this fictional classroom exchange. “So the goats must have lived there.” Temuulen asks, “Does the label identify fibre origin, or the manufacturing stage?” Saran checks the supplied record and finds that it identifies only the place of manufacture.

An accurate repair keeps the information that exists: “The label names a manufacturing location; the fibre origin is not established by this record.” The learner has not disproved any particular origin. They have identified what remains unknown. That is a useful distinction in a supply-chain explanation and in many ordinary reading tasks.

Retell the exchange using origin, manufacturer and traceability. Then say what additional evidence would answer the question. A request for linked batch records is more useful than a vague demand for “more proof”, because it names the missing connection.

Read a material claim at the right scale

Fibre identity, fibre quality, garment construction and supply-chain practice are related questions. They require different evidence. A laboratory result for a sample does not automatically establish every social condition behind a product. A sourcing certificate does not by itself tell you the garment’s drape. A pleasant handle does not independently identify the fibre.

This makes Mongolia’s cashmere setting valuable for learners interested in science, design, business or communication. You can describe a material process, compare a specification or explain the scope of a claim. The existing Mongolia learning guide widens the context to landscapes, craftsmanship, music and other forms of knowledge.

Keep the people in the explanation. Herders, technicians, designers and processors contribute different expertise. A useful account credits that knowledge without pretending every person shares the same experience or that one attractive product solves every environmental challenge.

Practice: follow the denominator and the record

Answers and explanations

1. Fibres are basic strands; yarn is a prepared continuous strand; fabric is the textile structure made from yarns or other fibre arrangements.

2. Stated cashmere mass: 250 × 0.80 = 200 g. Stated wool mass: 250 × 0.20 = 50 g.

3. Yield is 9 ÷ 30 × 100 = 30%. It compares output with input at a processing stage; it does not state the output’s fibre composition.

4. “Ply count describes yarn construction. Fibre characteristics, construction and finishing also affect quality and performance.”

5. “The supplied label identifies a manufacturing location.” A useful question asks which linked records establish the origin of the fibre. Do not invent or disprove an origin from missing information.

Explain a material journey without copying the glossary

Students can choose eight linked words and explain the route from undercoat to knitted fabric in 60 seconds. Close the page first. Then check the sequence and correct the first missing relationship. Use a different product or record on the next attempt rather than repeating the same memorised speech.

Parents can ask “What does this percentage compare?” Teachers can separately check process understanding, numerical reasoning and English expression. The English learning guide for Mongolia emphasises the learner’s actual textbook, prior experience and immediate task. Use that task-first approach rather than assuming a grade label identifies every learning need.

The Master SEC English Vocabulary Guide offers general methods for retrieval and transfer within its Singapore qualification setting. Apply the method where useful without substituting Singapore routes for Mongolia’s courses or implying an eduKate centre abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Does cashmere come from sheep?

Cashmere is the fine undercoat fibre of cashmere-producing goats. Sheep wool is a different animal-fibre source.

Does a soft feel prove cashmere content?

No. Handle is a tactile property. Fibre identification and composition need suitable evidence.

Is yield the same as composition?

No. Yield compares a defined output with input. Composition describes the materials and proportions in a product.

Does a higher ply count guarantee quality?

No. Ply count describes construction. The relevant fibre, yarn, fabric and finishing characteristics also matter.

Are all Mongolian people herders?

No. Mongolia includes varied communities and occupations. This guide uses one material context without treating it as the whole country.

Sources and the scope of this guide

Sources checked on 16 October 2026. FAO supplies animal-fibre and Mongolia context; its Mountain Partnership feature is dated 25 September 2024. CCMI supplies technical fibre and construction information, not a universal legal ruling or guaranteed product outcome. Definitions, labels, batch records and dialogue here are original teaching material.

International Wool Textile Organisation: First-stage processing — General animal-fibre preparation terms, including scouring and carding; not a claim that every cashmere route is identical.

International Wool Textile Organisation: Spinning — General yarn-formation language.

FAO: Mountain heritage and sustainable cashmere in Mongolia — Dated account of fibre, herder knowledge and supply-chain concerns.

FAO: Harvesting of textile animal fibres, chapter 1 — Animal-fibre background; historical production estimates are not presented as current.

CCMI: Definition of cashmere and superfine wool — Technical material definition and the importance of measurement scope.

CCMI: Cashmere purchasing guide — Industry explanations of fibre characteristics, blends and ply; promotional generalisations are not adopted as guarantees.

Cambridge Dictionary: Cashmere — Authoritative English material meaning.

Your next route: give one claim the evidence it needs

Choose a real product description or an invented classroom label. Write 100 words distinguishing composition, construction and origin. Mark the information that is stated and the questions that remain unanswered.

Return to the first uncertain link: fibre to yarn, yarn to fabric, percentage to denominator, or claim to record. A useful next vocabulary task makes that relationship clearer.