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# napkin

noun (napkin, napkins)

«napkin» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A napkin is a square piece of cloth or paper used at meals to wipe your mouth and fingers and keep your clothes clean. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#m1)
2. In some countries «napkin» (or «nappy») once meant a baby's diaper. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#m2)
3. A napkin can also be a square cloth used to wrap and carry things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#m3)

### In the lessons

In manners lessons pupils learn table manners: put the napkin on your lap, wipe your mouth gently, do not use your sleeve. In maths napkins are folded to show halves, quarters and lines of symmetry. Phrases: paper napkin, cloth napkin, napkin on your lap, fold the napkin.

### Examples

- Put your napkin on your lap. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#x1)
- Wipe your mouth with a napkin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#x2)
- Can I have a paper napkin, please? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#x3)
- We folded the napkins into triangles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#x4)
- Fold the napkin in half and then in half again to make quarters. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#x5)
- She set the table with plates and napkins. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#x6)
- Then John answered, "I am a merchant"; and opening his napkin he showed her its contents. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/#x7)

### Note

Countable noun. In British English it is also called a «serviette». In Britain and Australia a baby's «nappy» comes from «napkin»; in the USA it is a «diaper». Maths: folding a square napkin in half twice makes four equal quarters.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «napkin» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/napkin/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«napkin» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/napkin.html) on Mova free.