suede
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /sweɪd/
KK: /swɛd/
noun
Definition
A type of leather or fabric that has a soft, fuzzy surface, often used for clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Example
She wore a beautiful suede jacket that felt soft to the touch.
Conversation
I just bought a jacket made of suede and I love it.
That sounds awesome! Suede is such a nice material.
Yeah, it feels really soft and looks great.
You should wear it out; I bet it will turn heads!
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
leather
fabric
textile
Antonyms
canvas
plastic
vinyl
verb
Definition
To treat a fabric or leather to create a soft, velvety surface.
Example
She decided to suede the leather jacket to give it a more luxurious look.
Tense Forms
Past: suede
Past Participle: suede
Conversation
I want to suede this old jacket I have.
That sounds interesting! How would you do that?
I think I just need to use some special sandpaper to give it a suede texture.
Root Explanation
Suede originates from the French word *gants de Suède*, meaning 'gloves from Sweden'. The term refers to the soft leather made from the underside of animal hides, which was originally used for making gloves.
Memory Tip
Think of the French phrase for 'gloves from Sweden' — suede is a type of soft leather that was used for making such gloves.
Visually Confused Words
swede
sueve
suade
stude
sedge
seder