red velvet

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   A type of cake or cupcake with a dark red color, usually with cream cheese frosting.

   Grammar: Uncountable when talking about the cake itself: 'I love red velvet.' Countable when referring to a piece or a whole cake: 'two red velvets'.

   Patterns

   • red velvet cake
   • red velvet cupcake
   • a slice of red velvet

   She baked a red velvet cake for his birthday.

   The bakery sells red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

   Would you like a slice of red velvet?

2. 2noununcountable

   A deep red velvet fabric, or the color of such fabric.

   Grammar: Uncountable when referring to the material; used before another noun to describe color: 'a red velvet dress'.

   Patterns

   • red velvet dress
   • red velvet curtains
   • in red velvet

   The sofa was covered in red velvet.

   She wore a red velvet dress to the party.

   The theater had red velvet curtains.

Common combinations

red velvet cake

Red velvet cake is a popular dessert in the southern United States.

red velvet cupcake

He bought a red velvet cupcake at the coffee shop.

red velvet dress

She looked elegant in her red velvet dress.

red velvet curtains

The stage was framed by heavy red velvet curtains.

red velvet rope

The VIP area was marked off by a red velvet rope.

Synonyms and how they differ

crimson velvet

'Crimson' is a more general color word for deep red; 'red velvet' specifically refers to the fabric or the cake, not just the color.

Commonly confused: red velvet or red valet?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “red velvet”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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