velveteen

American  

[vel-vi-teen] / ˌvɛl vɪˈtin /

noun

1. a cotton pile fabric with short pile.

2. velveteens, trousers of this fabric.

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adjective

1. made of velveteen.

   a velveteen jumper.

velveteen British  

/ ˌvɛlvɪˈtiːn /

noun

1. 1. a cotton fabric resembling velvet with a short thick pile, used for clothing, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      velveteen trousers

2. (plural) trousers made of velveteen

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Other Word Forms

• velveteened
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of velveteen

1770–80; velvet + -een, variant of -ine ¹

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Explanation

Velveteen is as soft as velvet, but it's not quite as fancy. Your favorite childhood stuffed animal might be made out of velveteen. Velvet is a plush fabric made of silk, and velveteen is a similar fabric that's made of cotton instead. Velveteen is less expensive and not quite as luxurious as velvet. Curtains, pillows, and clothing can all be made from velveteen. The word velveteen was coined in the 1770s, an alteration of the word velvet, which comes from the Latin villutus, or "shaggy cloth."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

velveteen

At the National Museum of African American History and Culture, one of Mrs. Beane’s hats is green velveteen.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 25, 2022

They wore "long greasy velveteen coats, furnished with pockets of vast capacity, and their nether limbs are encased in dirty canvas trousers", Mayhew noted.

From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2021

Unlike Margery Williams' velveteen rabbit, this phantom party resists becoming real.

From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2021

A velveteen recording that exudes warmth, it showcases Wilkes’ skills at tapping low frequencies as the seeds of melodic ideas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2019

The door of the helicopter opened, and out stepped, first a fair and ruddy-faced young man, then, in green velveteen shorts, white shirt, and jockey cap, a young woman.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

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Related Words

• velvety

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