n.
- a piece of fine material worn to protect or conceal the face.
▸a piece of fabric forming part of a nun's headdress, resting on the head and shoulders.
- a thing that conceals, disguises, or obscures:
an eerie veil of mist.
- (in Jewish antiquity) the piece of precious cloth separating the sanctuary from the body of the Temple or the Tabernacle.
- Botany a membrane which is attached to the immature fruiting body of some toadstools and ruptures in the course of development.
v.
cover with or as if with a veil.
▸
[
usu. as adj. veiled]
partially conceal or disguise:
a thinly veiled threat.
Phrase
- draw a veil over
avoid discussing or calling attention to (something embarrassing or unpleasant). - take the veil
become a nun.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. veil(e), from L. vela, pl. of velum (see velum).