/vel"vit/ , n.
1. a fabric of silk, nylon, acetate, rayon, etc., sometimes having a cotton backing, with a thick, soft pile formed of loops of the warp thread either cut at the outer end or left uncut.
2. something likened to the fabric velvet, as in softness or texture: the velvet of her touch; the velvet of the lawn.
3. the soft, deciduous covering of a growing antler.
4. Informal. a very pleasant, luxurious, desirable situation.
5. Informal.
a. money gained through gambling; winnings.
b. clear gain or profit, esp. when more than anticipated.
adj.
6. Also, velveted . made of velvet or covered with velvet.
7. Also, velvetlike . resembling or suggesting velvet; smooth; soft; velvety: a velvet night; a cat's velvet fur.
[ 1275-1325; ME velvet, veluet, veluwet veluotte, equiv. to velu ( vil ( l ) utus; L vill ( us ) shaggy nap (cf. VILLUS) + LL -utus for L -atus -ATE 1 ) + -otte n. suffix ]