Absorbent fabric (5)
I believe the answer is:
terry
'absorbent fabric' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for terry that I've seen before include "Cloth to make towels" , "Towelling fabric" , "(Rhyming) man's name" , "A man" , "Loop of pile fabric; England footballer" .)