English▸ noun
1 [mass noun] spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing:
hanks of pale green yarn
[count noun] a fine yarn for a lightweight garment.
2 informal a long or rambling story, especially one that is implausible:
he never let reality get in the way of a good yarn.
▪ Australian and New Zealand English a chat:
he had a bit of a yarn with the others.
▸ verb [no object] informal tell a long or implausible story:
they were yarning about local legends and superstitions.
▪ Australian and New Zealand English chat; talk:
he sat yarning to his mother.
– ORIGIN Old English gearn; of Germanic origin, related to Dutch garen.