velvet curtain

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A heavy curtain made of soft velvet, used especially on a stage or at a grand window.

   Grammar: Countable: one curtain, two curtains; often used in the plural for a pair.

   Patterns

   • draw the velvet curtains
   • behind the velvet curtain

   The theater's red velvet curtain rose slowly at the start of the play.

   She pulled the heavy velvet curtains closed to keep the room dark.

   Dust had gathered in the folds of the velvet curtain.

2. 2nouncountable

   A decorative velvet hanging used to cover a doorway or to separate one room from another.

   Grammar: Countable and usually plural when it refers to a pair hanging on both sides of an opening.

   Patterns

   • hang velvet curtains
   • velvet curtains over a doorway

   Velvet curtains hung on either side of the old doorway.

   They installed velvet curtains to divide the studio from the living area.

Word forms

Common combinations

draw the curtains

He drew the velvet curtains before the guests arrived.

heavy velvet curtain

A heavy velvet curtain kept the drafts out.

red velvet curtain

The red velvet curtain gave the stage a classic look.

behind the curtain

The singer waited behind the curtain for her cue.

Synonyms and how they differ

drape

A 'drape' is a general word for a long hanging cloth, while 'velvet curtain' names both the material and the object.

hanging

A 'hanging' is any fabric fixed to a wall; a velvet curtain is specifically a curtain made of velvet.

Word family

velvety adjective

Soft and smooth like velvet.

velvet noun

The soft fabric with a thick, short pile.

Commonly confused: velvet curtain or veil?

Practice

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

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