a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
"The evening gown was made of shimmering satin, featuring a lustrous front that caught the light while its reverse side remained matte."
A cloth woven from silk, nylon or polyester with a glossy surface and a dull back. (The same weaving technique applied to cotton produces cloth termed sateen).
"She wore an elegant satin dress that caught the light on its glossy front while remaining matte against her skin."
In plain English: Satin is smooth, shiny fabric that feels slippery to the touch and looks great on dresses and sheets.
"She chose a satin dress for the evening gala because its smooth fabric caught the light beautifully."
Usage: Satin refers specifically to the fabric's characteristic shiny front side rather than just any soft material. Use it when describing textiles with a distinct gloss on one face and a dull texture on the reverse.
To make (paper, silver, etc.) smooth and glossy like satin.
"The printer was adjusted to satin the surface of the paper before printing the document."
In plain English: To satin is to make something smooth and shiny by rubbing it with your hand, though this verb usage is very rare compared to using the word for fabric.
"The baby began to satin in his high chair after eating too much sugar."
Semigloss.
"The new lampshade was made from satin fabric, giving it a soft semigloss finish that caught the light beautifully."
The word satin comes from the French term satin, which was borrowed from the Arabic name Zaitun for the Chinese port city of Quanzhou. This Arabic name originally referred to a coral tree, reflecting the region's nickname as the "city of coral trees."