noun
Uncommon
velvet
VEHL-viht
Velvet (noun) means a closely woven fabric with a thick, short, soft pile on one side, traditionally made of silk but now often cotton or synthetic fibre. Example: “She wore a deep red velvet dress to the gala.”
noun
1
A closely woven fabric with a thick, short, soft pile on one side, traditionally made of silk but now often cotton or synthetic fibre.
"She wore a deep red velvet dress to the gala."
"The curtains were a heavy black velvet."
"The sofa was covered in soft blue velvet that felt lovely to touch."
2
The soft, fuzzy layer of skin and fur covering a deer's antlers while they are growing.
"Bucks rub the velvet off their antlers against trees in late summer."
"The young stag still had velvet on its growing antlers."
"Fresh velvet is warm to the touch while the antlers are still growing."
verb
1
To coat raw meat in a starch-and-oil mixture before stir-frying, to keep it tender.
"The recipe calls for velveting the chicken before it hits the wok."
"She velvets the beef with cornflour and oil before frying it."
"Velveting the pork first keeps it tender in a quick stir-fry."
adj
1
Made of velvet, or soft and smooth like velvet.
"The wine had a velvet finish that lingered pleasantly."
"The cat had a velvet coat that was lovely to stroke."
"A velvet voice drifted from the radio late at night."
How to use velvet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft, plush fabric with a short furry pile, or an adjective for anything that feels or sounds that smooth and soft.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
velvet curtains
velvet finish
velvet glove
red velvet
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Word forms
- Plural
- velvets
- Third person singular
- velvets
- Past tense
- velveted
- Comparative
- more velvet
- Superlative
- most velvet
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore a deep red _____ dress to the gala.
Etymology
From Middle English velvet, from Old Occitan veluet, ultimately from Latin villus ("shaggy hair, tuft"). Related to French velours.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “velvet” mean?
The word “velvet” means a closely woven fabric with a thick, short, soft pile on one side, traditionally made of silk but now often cotton or synthetic fibre. In plain terms, a soft, plush fabric with a short furry pile, or an adjective for anything that feels or sounds that smooth and soft.
How do you pronounce “velvet”?
“Velvet” is pronounced VEHL-viht (/ˈvɛlvɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “velvet” in a sentence?
Here is “velvet” used in a sentence: “She wore a deep red velvet dress to the gala.”
What part of speech is “velvet”?
Depending on how it is used, “velvet” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “velvet” come from?
The word “velvet” comes from Latin. From Middle English velvet, from Old Occitan veluet, ultimately from Latin villus ("shaggy hair, tuft"). Related to French velours.
Is “velvet” a common word?
“Velvet” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “velvet” have?
“Velvet” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a closely woven fabric with a thick, short, soft pile on one side, traditionally made of silk but now often cotton or synthetic fibre.
What is the difference between velvet and velour?
Velvet is traditionally woven from silk (though now often cotton or synthetic fibre) and has a dense, short pile that gives it a smooth, luxurious feel. Velour is typically knitted rather than woven, which makes it stretchier and generally less expensive, though it has a similar soft, plush surface.
What does it mean to velvet meat in cooking?
To velvet meat means to coat it in a starch-and-oil mixture before stir-frying, a technique used to keep the meat tender and smooth in texture, common in Chinese cooking.
What is deer velvet?
Deer velvet is the soft, fuzzy layer of skin and fur that covers a deer's antlers while they are growing. It is shed once the antlers finish developing.
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