Kotro Home
Furniture glossary · 54 terms · 18 letters
Furniture terms that show up on the tag
Product pages bury quality in jargon. These definitions turn kiln-dried, dovetail, double rubs, and performance fabric into buying signals you can check before the truck arrives.
How to use this glossary
Read the tag. Then check the joint, the foam, and the fabric rating.
Kotro Home keeps this glossary beside the buying guides so a product page does not win on adjectives alone. Kiln-dried tells you about moisture. Dovetail tells you about drawers. Double rubs and cleanability codes tell you whether a sofa survives a family room.
Search or filter by materials, construction, seating, outdoor, lighting, hardware, or textiles. Open any term for the longer definition, related words, and the guide that puts the number to work in a real room.
When two layouts compete, leave the glossary and open a room hub or measuring guide. Definitions decode the tag. Clearance, delivery, and climate still decide the purchase.
- Terms defined
- 54
- Alphabet sections
- 18
- Topic groups
- 7
A–Z directory
Every term, searchable and grouped by letter
Jump the alphabet when you know the word. Filter by topic when you only know the problem—drawers that stick, fabric that stains, outdoor frames that rust.
54 of 54 terms
A
3 terms
B
2 terms
C
4 terms
Cam Lock
HardwareReady-to-assemble hardware that locks a bolt into a rotating disc.
Open definition
Case Goods
ConstructionFurniture that isn’t upholstered—dressers, cabinets, tables.
Open definition
Chaise
SeatingAn extended seat section for lounging—often on sectionals.
Open definition
Cleanability Code
TextilesLetter codes on upholstery tags that say which cleaners are safe.
Open definition
D
4 terms
Double Rubs
TextilesA Wyzenbeek lab abrasion rating for upholstery durability.
Open definition
Dovetail
ConstructionAn interlocking joint often used in quality drawer boxes.
Open definition
Down Blend
SeatingCushion fill mixing down or feathers with foam or fiber.
Open definition
Drop-Leaf
ConstructionA table with hinged leaves that fold down to shrink the footprint.
Open definition
E
2 terms
F
3 terms
H
3 terms
J
1 term
K
1 term
L
3 terms
M
3 terms
O
1 term
P
7 terms
Particleboard
MaterialsEngineered panel made from wood particles and resin.
Open definition
Patina
MaterialsThe surface character that develops with age and use.
Open definition
Pedestal Base
ConstructionA single central support under a table instead of four corner legs.
Open definition
Performance Fabric
TextilesUpholstery textile engineered for stain and wear resistance.
Open definition
Plywood
MaterialsLayered wood veneers glued with alternating grain for strength.
Open definition
Pocket Screw
ConstructionA screw driven at an angle through a pocket hole to join parts.
Open definition
Powder Coat
OutdoorA baked-on finish that protects metal outdoor and indoor frames.
Open definition
R
2 terms
S
9 terms
Seat Depth
SeatingFront-to-back depth of a seat, usually including the cushion.
Open definition
Seat Height
SeatingDistance from the floor to the top of the seat cushion.
Open definition
Sectional
SeatingMulti-piece seating arranged in an L, U, or modular configuration.
Open definition
Sinuous Spring
SeatingS-shaped springs commonly used in sofa decks.
Open definition
Slipcover
TextilesA removable fabric cover for sofas or chairs.
Open definition
Soft-Close
HardwareHardware that gently decelerates doors and drawers.
Open definition
Softwood
MaterialsWood from conifers such as pine, fir, and cedar.
Open definition
Solid Wood
MaterialsFurniture built from solid lumber rather than a veneered panel.
Open definition
Solution-Dyed
TextilesFiber colored before it is formed, so pigment runs through the yarn.
Open definition
T
4 terms
Task Chair
SeatingAn adjustable chair designed for desk work.
Open definition
Task Lighting
LightingFocused light for reading, cooking, or desk work.
Open definition
Teak
OutdoorA durable hardwood prized for outdoor furniture.
Open definition
Trestle Base
ConstructionA table base with end supports connected by a stretcher.
Open definition
V
1 term
W
1 term
Common questions
Before you trust the product page
What is a furniture glossary used for?
A furniture glossary translates sales-floor language into checks you can make on a product page: how wood was dried, how drawers are joined, how fabric is rated for abrasion, and whether outdoor frames match your climate. Use it when a listing sounds premium but you need to know what the words actually promise.
What furniture terms matter most when shopping?
Start with construction and materials that decide lifespan: kiln-dried wood, joinery, dovetail drawers, soft-close and full-extension hardware, performance fabric with a double-rub rating, and—for outdoor pieces—teak, powder-coated aluminum, HDPE, and solution-dyed covers. Seating terms like sectional orientation, seat depth, and ergonomics matter once the piece has to fit a body and a room.
Is veneer bad furniture?
No. Quality veneer is a thin layer of real wood bonded to a stable core. On large tabletops it can stay flatter through humidity swings than a wide solid slab. Cheap veneer peels; good veneer on plywood or MDF is a legitimate construction method, not a fake finish.
What does kiln-dried mean on a furniture tag?
Kiln-dried wood was dried in a controlled kiln to a target moisture content before it was built into furniture. In U.S. homes with winter heat and humid summers, that stability reduces the chance of dramatic warp, crack, or shrink after delivery compared with wood that was not dried properly.
Next step
Definitions decode the tag. Guides decide the buy.
Move from vocabulary into measuring, materials, and room clearance when the term you needed is clear.