I. ˈvel-vət noun
Etymology: Middle English veluet, velvet, from Anglo-French, from velu shaggy, soft, velvety, from Vulgar Latin * villutus, from Latin villus shaggy hair; akin to Latin vellus fleece — more at wool
Date: 14th century
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 (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
• vel·vet·like -ˌlīk adjective
II. adjective
Date: 14th century
1. : made of or covered with velvet ; also : clad in velvet
2. : resembling or suggesting velvet : velvety
a velvet voice