Describing Textures: English Vocabulary List

having a texture or appearance with small, granular particles

"The photo is grainy."

"The old photograph was grainy and faded but she could still recognize her grandmother's face and she cherished the image despite its poor quality."

smooth and shiny, often describing healthy-looking hair, fur, or skin

"Her hair is slick."

"The seal's slick fur allowed it to glide effortlessly through the water with great speed."

difficult to hold or move on because of being smooth, greasy, wet, etc.

"The ice is slippery."

"The floor was slippery after the janitor mopped it and he put up a yellow warning sign so that people would walk carefully and not fall."

having a fine, dry, and crumbly texture

"The snow is powdery."

"The powdery snow was perfect for skiing and the slopes were filled with excited tourists who had been waiting all year for the winter season to begin."

having a firm and somewhat rough texture

"The skin is leathery."

"The old man's skin was leathery from years of working in the sun and his face was covered with deep wrinkles that told the story of his long life."

having a smooth, glossy, and somewhat slippery or greasy texture resembling wax

"The leaf is waxy."

"The leaves of the plant had a waxy coating that protected them from the hot sun and helped the plant retain moisture during the dry summer months."

having a flexible quality, capable of returning to its original shape after being stretched or compressed

"The band is elastic."

"The waistband of the pants was elastic so they fit comfortably even after a big meal and she did not have to unbutton anything to feel relaxed."

having a light, frothy, and bubbly texture, resembling foam

"The soap is foamy."

"The foamy waves crashed against the shore and the children ran into the water laughing as the white bubbles covered their feet and ankles."

having a light, delicate, and soft texture resembling or suggestive of feathers

"Her touch is feathery."

"The feathery clouds drifted across the blue sky and the shape of a bird seemed to appear for a moment before the wind blew it apart."

covered with grass

"The hill is grassy."

"The grassy hill behind the school was a popular spot for students to eat lunch and play games during the warm spring months when the weather was nice."