Terry is a type of fabric with small loops on one or both sides that make it soft and absorbent. The towel you dry off with after a shower is probably made of terry cloth, also called terrycloth. Those tiny loops are perfect for soaking up water, which is why terry is the go-to fabric for towels, bathrobes, and washcloths.

If you look closely at a towel, you'll see thousands of these loops covering the surface. They work like tiny sponges, pulling moisture away from your skin. That's why a fluffy terry towel works so much better than a flat piece of cloth.

Beach towels, bath mats, and even some sweatbands use terry because of how well it absorbs moisture while staying soft against your skin.

As an adjective, terry describes something made from this fabric, like a terry robe or terry shorts.