■ noun
1》 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.
2》 a thing that conceals, disguises, or obscures: an eerie ~ of mist.
3》 (in Jewish antiquity) the piece of precious cloth separating the sanctuary from the body of the Temple or the Tabernacle.
4》 Botany a membrane which is attached to the immature fruiting body of some toadstools and ruptures in the course of development.
■ verb cover with or as if with a ~.
↘[usu. as adjective ~ed ] partially conceal or disguise: a thinly ~ed threat.
Phrases
draw a ~ over avoid discussing or calling attention to (something embarrassing or unpleasant).
take the ~ become a nun.
Derivatives
~ing noun
~less adjective
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. ~(e) , from L. vela , plural of velum (see velum ).