velvet

1 of 2

noun

vel·​vet ˈvel-vət How to pronounce velvet (audio)
1
: a clothing and upholstery fabric (as of silk, rayon, or wool) characterized by a short soft dense warp pile
2
a
: 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
4
a
: the winnings of a player in a gambling game
b
: a profit or gain beyond ordinary expectation
velvetlike adjective

velvet

2 of 2

adjective

1
: made of or covered with velvet
also : clad in velvet
2
: resembling or suggesting velvet : velvety
a velvet voice

Examples of velvet in a Sentence

Noun She was dressed in black velvet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Beckinsale wore blue pajamas with dogs on them and a black velvet hair bow in the cute snap shared on her Instagram Story. Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 The black velvet fabric is lovely, as is the keyhole brooch at her neckline. Rachel Tashjian, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 The gown was crafted of black velvet that falls to a scalloped fishtail hem that sits atop 150 meters of pleated silk tulle. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Sweeney kept the styling simple, wearing black peep-toe platforms, a black velvet Wander bag, and round sunglasses. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 Restaurant consultant Ashley Rose topped blood and bacon velvet cake with a blood and red wine buttercream frosting. The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024 Her sister provided motivation with her specialty — a batch of red velvet cookies embedded with white chocolate chips. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024 Diners are enveloped in velvet at the West Village restaurant Le B., both literally (velvet banquettes, velvet barstools) and in a more abstract sense. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024 And if your style is a little more flouncy, this velvet pair of fuzzy slippers topped off with a playful fluff ball, will bring out your inner diva. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Adjective
At home in Tallahassee The house in Tallahassee is decked out with contemporary-style furniture — velvet gray sofas, pink candles and tall lamps that glow different colors. Nada Hassanein, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 As promised, the pair did change for the party, with Dome opting for a slinky dress and sneakers and Lautner going with a velvet D&G suit. Aili Nahas, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2022 Disney is famously velvet glove, corporate, insular and cutthroat in its own ways. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Apr. 2022 The scrunchie girls will love the sleek and luxe satin and velvet options. Shalwah Evans, Essence, 13 May 2020 Elsa Elbert recommends velvet hangers if space is an issue or wood hangers if there’s room. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 May 2020 The Kempinski’s rooms are modern, though the lobby is outfitted with marble floors and velvet furniture. Kate Krader, Bloomberg.com, 5 May 2020 The model herself wore their velvet tuxedo jacket, a Polo Bear sweater, and an incredible smokey eye. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 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, 20 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'velvet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of velvet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near velvet

Cite this Entry

“Velvet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/velvet. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

velvet

noun
vel·​vet
ˈvel-vət
1
: a fabric with short soft raised fibers
2
: the soft skin covering the developing antler of a deer
velvet adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on velvet

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