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sweater

Apparel
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A knitted garment for the upper body, typically pulled over the head, providing warmth and a casual aesthetic, often appearing in poetry as a symbol of comfort, youth, and autumnal nostalgia.

Detailed Definition
The sweater is one of the most commonly referenced modern garments in contemporary poetry, cherished for its coziness, its association with cold weather, and its ability to evoke memory. Poets describe its texture—wool, cashmere, or cotton—and its color—often muted or bright—to set a seasonal and emotional tone. A school sweater can trigger childhood memories of uniforms and first loves; an old, patched sweater can signify poverty or sentimentality. In love poems, the sweater is often the garment that a lover steals or leaves behind, its fibers carrying the beloved's scent. Its snug fit can also suggest a protective embrace, while its shedding or pilling speaks to the wear and tear of relationships and time. The sweater's ubiquity makes it a democratic garment, accessible to all.
Example
Example in poetry:
"His sweater of wool was a shield against the winter and the world"; "She wore his sweater, too large, and felt his arms around her"; "The sweater's cable knit was a maze of comfort"; "He pulled off his sweater and the cold entered the room"; "The sweater, faded and pilled, was his favorite garment"; "She knitted him a sweater, a gift of patience and love"
Additional Notes
The sweater is one of the most commonly referenced modern garments in contemporary poetry, cherished for its coziness, its association with cold weather, and its ability to evoke memory. Poets describe its texture—wool, cashmere, or cotton—and its color—often muted or bright—to set a seasonal and emotional tone. A school sweater can trigger childhood memories of uniforms and first loves; an old, patched sweater can signify poverty or sentimentality. In love poems, the sweater is often the garment that a lover steals or leaves behind, its fibers carrying the beloved's scent. Its snug fit can also suggest a protective embrace, while its shedding or pilling speaks to the wear and tear of relationships and time. Related terms include cardigan, pullover, and jersey. Students should note the sweater's associations with comfort, memory, and domestic intimacy.
Also Known As
pullover jersey woolen jacket
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