velvet

noun

vel·vet | \ ˈvel-vət

Definition of velvet

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a clothing and upholstery fabric (as of silk, rayon, or wool) characterized by a short soft dense warp pile

2a : something suggesting velvet

b : a characteristic (such as softness or smoothness) of velvet

3 : the soft vascular skin that envelops and nourishes the developing antlers of deer

4a : the winnings of a player in a gambling game

b : a profit or gain beyond ordinary expectation

velvet

adjective

Definition of velvet (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : made of or covered with velvet also : clad in velvet

2 : resembling or suggesting velvet : velvety a velvet voice

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Examples of velvet in a Sentence

Noun

She was dressed in black velvet.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Pair crushed velvets with dupioni silk for a luxe look. — Ap Mcclatchy, The Mercury News, "Are you a pillow lover or minimalist?," 6 June 2019 The store’s interior, ﬁlled with dark carved wooden furniture, crystal chandeliers, and heavy velvet curtains, was similar to the Stalinist concept of palaces of consumption of the 1930s. — Djurdja Bartlett, Smithsonian, "When the United States and Soviet Union Fought It Out Over Fashion," 4 June 2019 Similar to YouTube’s Google Preferred program, In-Stream Reserve puts a velvet rope around Facebook’s most prized video inventory and sells it as a standalone package. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "There’s a crack at the heart of Facebook’s advertising business," 4 Oct. 2018 Aqua octagonal tiles create a soothing tone in the entryway, pistachio velvet sofas add warmth to the living room and a merlot backsplash in the kitchen acts as a pop of interest. — Vanessa Lawrence, ELLE Decor, "Reath Design Crafts a Bright, Elegant Home for a Young Family," 22 Mar. 2019 And a singing Santa entertains guests on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, and reads to kids on Mondays and Fridays. All the rooms and suites contain festive decorations, too, with wreaths, red velvet bedding, and reindeer sculptures. — Megan Friedman, Country Living, "This Hotel Celebrates Christmas All Year Round Because Holiday Miracles Are Real," 19 Oct. 2018 My mother’s skin, porcelain and petal-velvet, had been a point of pride. — Rachel Vorona Cote, SELF, "Why I Embraced Skin Care After My Mother's Death," 18 Apr. 2019 And not just any scrunchie but a custom pink-velvet Fendi affair to match his pink-velvet tuxedo. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "Do Real Men Wear Scrunchies?," 8 Apr. 2019 The envious dessert, which was made with goat cheese and strawberry balsamic, organic red velvet, carrot, and chocolate hazelnut, will be showcased on the June 25 episode of Cake Hunters. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "Everything You Should Know About Property Brother Drew Scott and Linda Phan's Wedding," 5 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Add Tons of Texture Lay a cotton, canvas, or velvet pillow cover flat on your work surface. — Woman's Day Staff, Woman's Day, "How to Make Your Own Accent Pillows," 19 Feb. 2018 Meanwhile, Hemsworth looked dapper in a black suit with a bowtie and velvet lapels. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth Are the Hottest Couple at the Oscars After Party," 25 Feb. 2019 The result was a resplendent red wonderland with leather couches, velvet curtains, chandeliers, and Gucci wallpaper. — Vogue, "These Are the 6 Gucci-Approved Places to Travel in 2019," 22 Jan. 2019 At the time, Miley wore playful, pastel tweed separates by the French fashion house and Liam went monochrome in deep green with a velvet blazer. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth Are the Hottest Couple at the Oscars After Party," 25 Feb. 2019 For his part, Joe Alwyn opted for what appears to be a velvet tuxedo jacket designed by Tom Ford. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "The Favourite's Nicholas Hoult Just Arrived at the Oscars with His Co-Star Joe Alwyn," 24 Feb. 2019 Luxe motifs like gold fixtures and frames, oversize mirrors, wide stripes, and velvet keep all the pinks from feeling frilly. — Kaitlin Menza, House Beautiful, "Janie Molster Strongly Believes There is No Such a Thing as Too Much Pink," 6 Feb. 2019 Take her lavish midnight blue velvet robe from 1996 and a lavender dress of princess proportions in 1999. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "The Unsung Red Carpet Heroes of the ’90s Golden Globes," 4 Jan. 2019 The burgundy velvet fabric comes from Kravet Couture. — Adrienne Gaffney, WSJ, "An Oscar-Worthy Home Theater in the Family Basement," 16 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'velvet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for velvet

Noun

Middle English veluet, velvet, borrowed from Anglo-French velvet, from velu "shaggy, soft, velvety" (going back to early Medieval Latin villūtus, from Latin villus "shaggy growth of hair, cloth nap" + Late Latin -ūtus, adjective suffix) + -et -et entry 1; Latin villus, perhaps dialectal variant of vellus "plucked wool, fleece" — more at wool