1. nylon(n = noun.substance) - a thermoplastic polyamide; a family of strong resilient synthetic fibers;
is a kind of man-made fiber, synthetic fiber, polyamide, polymeric amide
2. nylon(n = noun.artifact) - a synthetic fabric;
is a kind of cloth, fabric, material, textile
1. Any of several thermoplastic polyamide plastics, comprising a family of high-strength resilient synthetic materials, used mostly in fibers. [WordNet 1.5]
2. A synthetic fabric consisting of fibers of nylon[wn1]. [WordNet 1.5]
3. Stockings made of a thin form of nylon{2}, especially full-length stockings either sheer of of varying shades. [PJC]
nylon, n.
1 any of various synthetic polyamide fibres having a protein-like structure, with tough, lightweight, elastic properties, used in industry and for textiles etc.
2 a nylon fabric.
3 (in pl.) stockings made of nylon.
Etymology:
invented word, after cotton, rayon