1. to treat cotton thread or fabric with sodium hydroxide under tension to increase its strength, luster, and ability to take dye
Usage: textile manufacturing

Examples

• The cotton fabric was mercerized to give it a silky appearance.
• Mercerized cotton thread is stronger and more lustrous than regular cotton.
• The textile mill mercerizes the yarn before dyeing it.
• High-quality bed sheets are often made from mercerized cotton.
• The process to mercerize cotton was invented by John Mercer in 1844.
• Mercerized cotton takes dye more evenly than untreated cotton.