Lesson 31 – Texture

The word “texture” refers to the way something feels, and there are many different collocations used to describe it. Let’s look at them in pairs of opposites.

Dry hair / Oily or greasy hair – You need to wash oily hair more often than you need to wash dry hair.

Dry skin / Oily skin – Oily skin is prone to acne, whereas dry skin often needs moisturizer.

A Smooth / Rough surface – Surfaces such as the ground, a road, and your skin can be smooth (with a consistent surface) or rough (with a varied surface).

Calm / Choppy or rough water – The water of the ocean is calm when the weather is mild, and it is choppy/rough when there are high winds.

Hard / Soft object – A mattress or pillow, for example, can be hard or soft.

Tender / Tough meat – Meat that is “tender” is easy to cut and chew, and meat that is “tough” is difficult to cut and chew.

A Sharp / Dull blade or point – A knife or a pencil can be “sharp” – meaning it can cut – or “dull,” meaning it has lost its ability to cut.

The verbs “soften” and “harden” describe the process of becoming soft and becoming hard. For example, potatoes soften when you cook them in boiling water. And snow hardens if the temperature decreases and the snow begins turning into ice.

We can also use “soften” and “harden” in a more metaphorical way – we can say a person’s voice softens when they begin speaking in a more friendly tone, and their voice hardens when they begin speaking in a less friendly tone. A person’s attitude or views can also “soften” (become more friendly/tolerant) or “harden” (become less friendly/less tolerant).

Texture words are often used when describing food:

creamy - describes a smooth and rich texture, like cream. Sauces, soups, puddings, and chocolate can be creamy.

crunchy/crispy – describe something that makes a noise when you chew it. Crackers, chips, bacon, granola, and other “hard” foods can be crunchy or crispy.

chewy – describes food that requires some effort to chew. Caramels and other types of candy can be chewy. This word can have a negative connotation if the food is not supposed to be chewy – for example, when you overcook meat, it becomes tough and chewy.

greasy – describes food with a lot of oil. Hamburgers, French fries, and chicken wings can be greasy.