velvet

noun

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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 Green sofa: Windsor Smith Home, in Rubelli velvet, with Soane Britain pillow fabric. — Danielle Harling, House Beautiful, "A New York City Apartment by Elizabeth Cooper That Uses Every Possible Shade of Blue," 8 Apr. 2021 The clip features Rudd ambling around a grocery store, buying Baskin-Robbins ice cream and chuckling at a bottle of blue velvet frosting. — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, "Paul Rudd Encounters an Army of Mini Stay Pufts in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Promo," 7 Apr. 2021 Nicola Coughlan in custom Christian Siriano and Regé-Jean Page in a velvet Louis Vuitton tuxedo). — Eliza Huber, refinery29.com, "Every Look From The SAG Awards Red Carpet Was Best-Dressed Material," 5 Apr. 2021 An acrylic bench from Wayfair was recovered in pink velvet from Schumacher. — Laura Kostelny, Southern Living, "Inside a Fort Worth Home Filled With Family Heirlooms and Modern Charm," 2 Apr. 2021 Throughout most of Hollywood's golden age, credits were just names, projected on a piece of velvet. — Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, "7 of the best-ever opening credits in movie history," 24 Mar. 2021 Not everyone lives and dies on dark, chocolatey goodness or the potent sugar hit cream cheese frosting or the richness of red velvet. — Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, "Best Dessert: 2021 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards," 26 Feb. 2021 In the first episode, Aretha wears a royal-blue silk velvet gown with ostrich feathers all around the bodice. — Shannon Carlin, Vulture, "How Genius: Aretha Re-created Aretha Franklin’s Iconic Style," 30 Mar. 2021 But caps, velvet and fur weren’t enough to prevent Benedict’s mantle from rising up, at times resembling the bony frills of long extinct dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "Pope’s wind-whipped mantle drives Vatican tailors to consider Velcro," 10 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The scrunchie girls will love the sleek and luxe satin and velvet options. — Shalwah Evans, Essence, "Pattern By Tracee Ellis Ross Launches Line Of Hair Accessories," 13 May 2020 Elsa Elbert recommends velvet hangers if space is an issue or wood hangers if there’s room. — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, "12 Home Cleaning Hacks From Hotel Housekeeping and Professional Organizers," 5 May 2020 The Kempinski’s rooms are modern, though the lobby is outfitted with marble floors and velvet furniture. — Kate Krader, Bloomberg.com, "Forget Palaces and Art, Let’s Go to Vienna for the Cake and Wine," 5 May 2020 The model herself wore their velvet tuxedo jacket, a Polo Bear sweater, and an incredible smokey eye. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "Taylor Hill Hosted a Cozy Holiday Dinner for Ralph Lauren at the Polo Bar," 9 Dec. 2019 With its infinite white corridors and oddball patients, including an amateur astrologer in a velvet robe, the hospital is akin to an asylum. — Jeremy Lybarger, The New York Review of Books, "The Mordant Fables of Juraj Herz," 20 Apr. 2020 The velvet ash, black walnut and cottonwood trees along Leslie Creek are important to migrating birds as well as home to two native Rio Yaqui fish species. — Debra Utacia Krol, azcentral, "Feds want to open or expand hunting on 4 national wildlife refuges in Arizona," 11 Apr. 2020 Sets come with a velvet pouch, and are available in many varieties of stone, including obsidian, tiger’s eye, grey agate, and more. — Popular Science, "Polyhedral gaming dice are the weapons of your imagination," 9 Apr. 2020 The personification of an iron fist in a velvet glove, Schlafly has difficulty living up to her own ideals and convictions, occasionally directing that clenched hand against herself. — Inkoo Kang, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Mrs. America': TV Review," 2 Apr. 2020

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