Gauze is a thin, loosely woven fabric that you can see through, most commonly used for medical bandages. When you scrape your knee or get a cut, a nurse might clean the wound and then cover it with gauze to protect it while it heals. The loose weave lets air reach the injury, which helps healing, while keeping dirt and germs out.

Medical gauze is usually made of cotton and comes in different forms: flat pads for covering wounds, long strips for wrapping around injuries, or rolls that can be cut to size. Doctors use sterile gauze during surgery, and you'll find packages of gauze pads in most first-aid kits.

The word can also describe anything thin and light enough to see through. A dancer might wear a gauzy costume that floats and flows as they move. On foggy mornings, you might look through your window at a gauze of mist hanging over the neighborhood. The key idea is always that quality of being delicate, thin, and somewhat transparent.