1. [n]  a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
2. [adj]  resembling velvet in having a smooth soft surface
3. [adj]  smooth and soft to sight or hearing or touch or taste

Velvet
Velvet

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1. \Vel"vet\, n. [OE. velouette, veluet, velwet; cf. OF.
   velluau, LL. velluetum, vellutum, It. velluto, Sp. velludo;
   all fr. (assumed) LL. villutus shaggy, fr L. villus shaggy
   hair; akin to vellus a fleece, and E. wool. See {Wool}, and
   cf. {Villous}.]
   1. A silk fabric, having a short, close nap of erect threads.
      Inferior qualities are made with a silk pile on a cotton
      or linen back.
   2. The soft and highly vascular deciduous skin which envelops
      and nourishes the antlers of deer during their rapid
      growth.
   {Cotton velvet}, an imitation of velvet, made of cotton.
   {Velvet cork}, the best kind of cork bark, supple, elastic,
      and not woody or porous.
   {Velvet crab} a European crab ({Portunus puber}). When adult
      the black carapace is covered with a velvety pile. Called
      also {lady crab}, and {velvet fiddler}.
   {Velvet dock} (Bot.), the common mullein.
   {Velvet duck}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) A large European sea duck, or scoter ({Oidemia
          fusca}). The adult male is glossy, velvety black, with
          a white speculum on each wing, and a white patch
          behind each eye.
      (b) The American whitewinged scoter. See {Scoter}.
   {Velvet flower} (Bot.), love-lies-bleeding. See under {Love}.
   {Velvet grass} (Bot.), a tall grass ({Holcus lanatus}) with
      velvety stem and leaves; -- called also {soft grass}.
   {Velvet runner} (Zo["o]l.), the water rail; -- so called from
      its quiet, stealthy manner of running. [Prov. Eng.]
   {Velvet scoter}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Velvet duck}, above.
   {Velvet sponge}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Sponge}.
   

2. \Vel"vet\, a.
   Made of velvet; soft and delicate, like velvet; velvety. ``
   The cowslip's velvet head.'' --Milton.
   

3. \Vel"vet\, v. i.
   To pain velvet. [R.] --Peacham.
   

4. \Vel"vet\, v. t.
   To make like, or cover with, velvet. [R.]