I. noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a veil of cloud (= a thin layer )
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A thin veil of cloud hid the moon.
a veil/curtain of mist (= an amount of mist that prevents you seeing something clearly )
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We looked up, through the veil of mist, at the waterfall.
a veiled threat (= one that is not made directly )
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The emails contained thinly veiled threats of harm.
be shrouded/veiled in mystery (= be unable to be explained )
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The origins of this tradition remain shrouded in mystery.
veil of secrecy
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the veil of secrecy that covered the talks
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
black
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She watches me through a black veil that hangs from a black hat.
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One wears a burqa, the black veil , the other a colourful scarf.
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They came up the steps with a Coptic woman in a long black gown and veil .
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The glint of diamanté or pearl-embroidered dresses could be seen under black veils .
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I dressed and then went to my suitcase, searching for an old, black veil .
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As she stooped lower her breath, caught in all the black veils , smelled terrible.
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The heat of the sun seemed absorbed into her black veil which was ragged and dusty.
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They moved slowly, their black veils floating around them.
white
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Dundee began to disappear behind a white veil while Chick drank his way steadily down the half-bottle.
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The buildings were only specters glimpsed through the thick white veils the air had become.
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Mary was carrying a long white veil and dress over her arm.
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She put on a red petticoat first, then a black dress, and a white veil over the dress.
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She was dressed in a dark blue gown, the white veil hiding her beautiful chestnut hair.
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He took off her white veil , and then he took off her black dress, and put it on the floor.
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Her hair had been braided and was concealed under a heart-shaped silver head-dress with a transparent white veil .
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Her hair, which was long and fair, was almost entirely covered by her white veil .
■ VERB
draw
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The food is dumpling-based, substantial, and it would be kinder to draw a veil over the indigenous wine lake.
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Beyond the budding boughs I could see the edge of its shadow drawing its veil aside.
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His brain drew a veil over the sickening consequences.
lift
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She had lifted back the veil and looked stunningly beautiful.
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Perhaps he will soon lift the veils on the Westland Saga and the sinking of the Belgrano.
wear
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One day an older woman who wore the veil cursed her and accused her of being loose.
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At most weddings the bride wears a veil but at this wedding the bride was wearing a beautiful top hat.
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Like Matilda, she had worn the veil , probably for several years; but she too had never taken religious vows.
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She had made a gesture in the direction of decency by wearing a veil , behind which she sat disdainfully.
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The women don't wear veils , though high-class Berber women are often secluded.
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He recognized that, although she had worn the veil for several years, she had never made her monastic profession.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
draw a veil over sth
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His brain drew a veil over the sickening consequences.
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The food is dumpling-based, substantial, and it would be kinder to draw a veil over the indigenous wine lake.
thinly disguised/veiled
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Almost all his climbs have a certain something: a thinly disguised air of intimidation often allied to a raw brutality.
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Both, however, were under external threat from barbarians more or less thinly disguised.
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Dole passed up two thinly veiled invitations by moderator Jim Lehrer to address so-called character issues.
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Hardly compatible with discretion, that I should ride to the Palace in so thinly disguised a vehicle.
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I should hate to give the impression that my love for you is but thinly disguised lust.
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Mostly they turned out to be thinly disguised candidate ads, a violation of the spirit of the law at best.
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Mrs Thatcher's public speeches contained thinly veiled warning messages to colleagues who doubted the strategy.
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She was only thinly veiled, and Rostov could see that although she was beautiful, she was old.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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As the road climbed upward, gray-white cloud veils drifted among the dales, chiffon scarves of some giant Isadora Duncan.
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But through the veil of darkness I got the sense that this would be a special trip.
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One day an older woman who wore the veil cursed her and accused her of being loose.
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Shaped like straw mushrooms, they are completely clear except for a gossamer veil which makes up their body.
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The client has thrown a veil of secrecy over the development, with contractors reluctant to discuss the project.
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The snow had come again, its veil dropping between Gentle and Pie.
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The white pony comes complete with veil , wedding cake, wedding ring, comb and ribbon, for perfect grooming!
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What is behind a hijab, the veil that means a barrier?
II. verb
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
thinly disguised/veiled
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Almost all his climbs have a certain something: a thinly disguised air of intimidation often allied to a raw brutality.
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Both, however, were under external threat from barbarians more or less thinly disguised.
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Dole passed up two thinly veiled invitations by moderator Jim Lehrer to address so-called character issues.
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Hardly compatible with discretion, that I should ride to the Palace in so thinly disguised a vehicle.
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I should hate to give the impression that my love for you is but thinly disguised lust.
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Mostly they turned out to be thinly disguised candidate ads, a violation of the spirit of the law at best.
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Mrs Thatcher's public speeches contained thinly veiled warning messages to colleagues who doubted the strategy.
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She was only thinly veiled, and Rostov could see that although she was beautiful, she was old.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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The women were veiled from head to foot.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Basil Rocke had a very puckish sense of humour and wryness which veiled a deep kindliness.
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Dole passed up two thinly veiled invitations by moderator Jim Lehrer to address so-called character issues.
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She stood up straight, wiped at her face and seemed alarmed to find it veiled.
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Thinly veiled corporate speak acknowledged the clash.
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We saw the moon appear and disappear, veiled by clouds.