[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

veil \veil\ v=al, n. oe. veile, of. veile, f. voile, l.
   velum a sail, covering, curtain, veil, probably fr. vehere to
   bear, carry, and thus originally, that which bears the ship
   on. see vehicle, and cf. reveal. written also vail.
   1913 webster
   1. something hung up, or spread out, to intercept the view,
      and hide an object; a cover; a curtain; esp., a screen,
      usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphnous material, to
      hide or protect the face.
      1913 webster

            the veil of the temple was rent in twain. --matt.
                                                  xxvii. 51.
      1913 webster

            she, as a veil down to the slender waist,
            her unadorn'ed golden tresses wore. --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. a cover; a disguise; a mask; a pretense.
      1913 webster

            i will pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the
            so seeming mistress page.             --shak.
      1913 webster

   3. bot.
      a the calyptra of mosses.
      b a membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a
          mushroom with the stalk; -- called also velum.
          1913 webster

   4. eccl. a covering for a person or thing; as, a nun's
      veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.
      1913 webster

   5. zool. same as velum, 3.
      1913 webster

   to take the veil eccl., to receive or be covered with, a
      veil, as a nun, in token of retirement from the world; to
      become a nun.
      1913 webster
see also:
vehicle reveal vail velum velum to take the veil 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

velum \ve"lum\, n.; pl. vela. l., an awning, a veil. see
   veil.
   1913 webster
   1. anat. a curtain or covering; -- applied to various
      membranous partitions, especially to the soft palate. see
      under palate.
      1913 webster

   2. bot.
      a see veil, n., 3
      b .
      b a thin membrane surrounding the sporocarps of
          quillworts isoetes.
          1913 webster

   3. zool. a veil-like organ or part. especially:
      a the circular membrane that partially incloses the
          space beneath the umbrella of hydroid medusae.
      b a delicate funnel-like membrane around the flagellum
          of certain infusoria. see illust. a of protozoa.
          1913 webster
see also:
vela veil palate isoetes protozoa 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

velum
     n 1: membrane of the young sporophore of various mushrooms
          extending from the margin of the cap to the stem and is
          ruptured by growth; represented in mature mushroom by an
          annulus around the stem and sometimes a cortina on the
          margin of the cap syn: partial veil
     2: membrane initially completely investing the young sporophore
        of various mushrooms that is ruptured by growth;
        represented in the mature mushroom by a volva around lower
        part of stem and scales on upper surface of the cap syn:
        universal veil
     3: a muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during
        swallowing or speaking syn: soft palate
     also: vela pl
see also:
partial veil universal veil soft palate vela 

Velum >> V Words
Velum, definition of term: Velum
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