suede

/sweɪd/

/sweɪd/

Other forms: suedes

Suede is a soft, velvety kind of leather. If you're anything like Elvis Presley, you're fond of your blue suede shoes and would prefer that people don't step on them.

Suede is made from leather that's been rubbed to create a nap, or a slightly fuzzy texture. The softer underside of leather is generally used to make suede. Shoes, furniture, gloves, bags, and many other products are commonly made from suede, or from material that's made to look like suede. The word comes from the French phrase gants de Suède, or literally "gloves from Sweden."

Definitions of suede

1. noun

   leather with a napped surface
   synonyms: suede leather

   type of:

   leather

   an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
2. noun

   a fabric made to resemble suede leather
   synonyms: suede cloth

   types:

   Ultrasuede

   a synthetic suede cloth

   type of:

   cloth, fabric, material, textile

   artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers