velvet
velvet
Fabric having a short, dense pile, used in clothing and upholstery. Velvet is made in the pile weave (see weaving), of silk, cotton, or synthetic fibres and is characterized by a soft, downy surface formed by clipped yarns (see shearing). Its “wrong” side is smooth and shows the weave used. Velvets can be made water-repellent and crush-resistant. They are also occasionally patterned or embossed.
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
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