velvet

[ vel-vit ]
/ ˈvɛl vɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR velvet ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

adjective

Also vel·vet·ed. made of velvet or covered with velvet.
Also vel·vet·like. resembling or suggesting velvet; smooth; soft; velvety: a velvet night; a cat's velvet fur.

Origin of velvet

1275–1325; Middle English velvet, veluet, veluwet < Old French veluotte, equivalent to velu (< Medieval Latin vil(l)ūtus; Latin vill(us) shaggy nap (cf. villus) + Late Latin -ūtus for Latin -ātus -ate1) + -otte noun suffix

Words nearby velvet

velsen, veltheimia, velum, velure, velutinous, velvet, velvet ant, velvet bean, velvet carpet, velvet glove, velvet plant

Words related to velvet

velvety, velveteen, velour, nap, pile, plush, velutinous

Example sentences from the Web for velvet

British Dictionary definitions for velvet

velvet
/ (ˈvɛlvɪt) /

noun

  1. a fabric of silk, cotton, nylon, etc, with a thick close soft usually lustrous pile
  2. (as modifier)velvet curtains
anything with a smooth soft surface
  1. smoothness; softness
  2. (as modifier)velvet skin; a velvet night
the furry covering of the newly formed antlers of a deer
slang, mainly US
  1. gambling or speculative winnings
  2. a gain, esp when unexpectedly high
velvet glove gentleness or caution, often concealing strength or determination (esp in the phrase an iron fist or hand in a velvet glove)

Derived forms of velvet

velvet-like, adjective velvety, adjective

Word Origin for velvet

C14: veluet, from Old French veluotte, from velu hairy, from Vulgar Latin villutus (unattested), from Latin villus shaggy hair

Idioms and Phrases with velvet

velvet

see under iron hand.