vellum
vellum — noun
1. a smooth, fairly thick, cream-coloured paper of expensive quality, often chosen
a smooth, fairly thick, cream-coloured paper of expensive quality, often chosen for letters, certificates, or fine printing
Naoko printed her wedding invitations on cream vellum from a small shop in Kyoto.
printed on vellum: paper used for formal documents
The graduation certificate was written on heavy vellum and sealed with red wax.
passive: written on vellum
Dario chose smooth vellum for the menus because it felt richer than ordinary paper.
The shop sells thick sheets of vellum to artists who paint with ink and gold.
- parchment
loosely used for the same fine paper, though strictly an animal-skin material
- cartridge paper
thick drawing paper, but plainer and less luxurious
用法筆記
Uncountable; usually preceded by an adjective of texture or weight (smooth, heavy, thick). Distinguish from sense 2: this is modern high-grade paper, not animal skin.
2. a writing surface made long ago by treating the hide of a calf, lamb, or kid goa
a writing surface made long ago by treating the hide of a calf, lamb, or kid goat, also used to cover and protect books
The monks copied the old prayers onto vellum made from young calves.
made from young calves: animal-skin origin
Rachid found a medieval map drawn on vellum in the library's locked room.
drawn on vellum: historical writing surface
The rare book was bound in vellum that had darkened over six hundred years.
Gita studied how scribes scraped the vellum smooth before adding gold letters.
用法筆記
Uncountable; almost always in historical or specialist contexts (manuscripts, bookbinding). Distinguish from sense 1: here the material is animal skin, not paper.