What does cire mean?
Ciré is a specialised term describing fabric that has been treated with wax to give it a smooth, highly glossed surface. Applied to silks, satins, and taffetas, the treatment produces a wet-looking sheen along with a slight stiffness, which made ciré fabrics especially popular for formal wear, evening gowns, and period costume where dramatic lustre was desired. The word functions chiefly as an adjective — one speaks of a 'ciré finish' or 'ciré satin' — though it can also serve as a noun naming the treated material or the finish itself. Because heat and friction can dull or destroy the waxy surface, ciré garments usually require careful cleaning. Borrowed from French, where cire simply means 'wax', the term remains a fixture of fashion writing and textile terminology rather than of general conversation, lending any description that uses it a distinctly expert tone.
(Of fabric) having a glossy, waxed finish produced by treating cloth with wax.
"The costume designer lined the cape in crimson ciré silk for maximum theatrical shine."
Almost always used attributively before a fabric name, e.g. ciré satin, ciré taffeta.
A waxed fabric bearing this finish, or the glossy finish itself.
"Heat will flatten a ciré, so press such garments with great care."
Rarely needed; the noun is usually treated as a mass noun referring to the finish or fabric type.
"The archive holds several early twentieth-century cires in fragile condition."
That impossibly shiny 'wet-look' satin on vintage couture gowns isn't plastic — it's ciré, fabric literally polished with wax.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cire
The word enters English from French, where cire means 'wax', ultimately deriving from Latin cera, 'wax'. In textile use, 'ciré' names fabrics finished by coating or polishing with wax, and English adopted the term directly from French dressmaking vocabulary. It shares its ancient root with other wax-related terms such as cerumen (earwax) and cerate (a waxy medicinal preparation), both likewise descended from Latin cera.
How cire is actually used
A specialised term of the textile and fashion trade rather than everyday speech; it appears most often in descriptions of high-end garments, historical costume, and fabric care instructions. When used attributively it typically precedes the fabric name (ciré satin, ciré taffeta).
Easily confused with cire
Cerise means a deep cherry red colour (or a cherry), whereas ciré describes a glossy waxed finish applied to fabric.