a thermoplastic polyamide; a family of strong resilient synthetic fibers
"The engineer replaced the old cotton rope with nylon cable ties to secure the heavy machinery, relying on their superior strength and resilience."
Originally, the DuPont company trade name for polyamide, a copolymer whose molecules consist of alternating diamine and dicarboxylic acid monomers bonded together; now generically used for this type of polymer.
"The old raincoat was made from nylon before it started fraying at the hem after years of washing in hot water."
In plain English: Nylon is a strong, man-made fabric that people use to make clothes and other things.
"She used a soft nylon cloth to clean her glasses without leaving any streaks."
Usage: Use nylon as a countable noun to refer to the generic synthetic fabric or plastic material, such as in a pair of nylon stockings or a nylon rope. Although it originated as a specific brand name, it is now commonly used without capitalization to describe any strong, lightweight man-made fiber.
New York-London, a reference to transatlantic life, people who spend time in both cities, or a transatlantic culture featuring both cities.
"The gallery was packed with so many Nylon regulars that you could tell the opening party had been planned long before either city's season even started."
DuPont coined the name nylon in 1938 by combining a made-up root "nyl-" with the textile suffix "-on," which they claimed was derived from cotton. The company created this new word specifically for their synthetic fiber, distinguishing it from natural materials like rayon.