Glossary of Terms

If you are unsure about the meaning of any of the terms used on our website, please feel free to browse through our furniture glossary. The terms have been organized alphabetically.

Bag Blowout

The effect of too much force on a bean bag chair, which causes filler to escape the bag.

Bean(Less) or Beanless

A product that is pod-shaped, like a bean bag chair, but does not contain any polystyrene filler. Instead, the product retains its shape with air.

BIFMA

The acronym for Business & Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association. [more]

Bubble

An inflatable product.

Circumference

The size of something as given by the distance around it.

Cubic Foot

A measurement for volume; it represents a volume of one foot long, by one foot wide, by one foot deep.

Denier

A unit of measurement to describe the strength of a material (like nylon). The higher the denier, the more durable the fabric will be.

Denim

Durable twill weave cotton fabric mostly used for jeans.

Double Stitch

Two parallel lines of stitching along a single seam which create added strength to the adjoined pieces.

Glossy

Having a smooth and shiny surface; a gleaming and light-reflective glaze.

Linear Yard

One yard (three feet) of material by a certain width (many times 54" when dealing with fabrics).

Nylon

A polymer used commonly in textiles; developed in 1938 by DuPont.

Ottoman

A piece of furniture often used as a footstool or footrest. Also known as a hassock or pouffe.

Polystyrene

Commonly called Styrofoam, it is polymer of styrene that is a rigid and commonly used in packaging.

Pre-consumer

Materials that have been recovered during the manufacturing process.

PVC

Acronym for polyvinyl chloride, a polymer used for vinyl fabric.

Regrind or re-grind

Polystyrene material that is mechanically ground up to form smaller particles.

Seam

A sew line where two pieces of fabrics are sewn together.

Styrofoam

A light resilient foam of polystyrene. Also referred to as polystyrene on our site.

Toddler

A child between one to three years old. During this period, the child learns a great deal about social roles and develops motor skills.

Triple Stitch

Three parallel lines of stitching along a single seam which create added strength to the adjoined pieces.

UFAC

The acronym for Upholstered Furniture Action Council. [more]

Upholstery

Fabric covering on a piece of furniture.

UPS

United Parcel Service, the main shipper for HotBeanBags.com.

Velour

A medium-weight, closely-woven fabric with a thick pile resembling velvet.

Vinyl

A man-made, non-elastic, plastic material that has a wet look.

Virgin Beads

Polystyrene beads that are newly formed.