/ veɪl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a covering of very thin transparent material worn, especially by women, to protect or hide the face, or as part of a hat, etc. :
a bridal veil
2.
a piece of cloth worn by nuns over the head and shoulders
3.
[ sing. ] ( formal ) something that stops you from learning the truth about a situation :
Their work is carried out behind a veil of secrecy.
It would be better to draw a veil over what happened next (= not talk about it) .
4.
[ sing. ] ( formal ) a thin layer that stops you from seeing sth :
The mountain tops were hidden beneath a veil of mist.
•
IDIOMS
- take the veil
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to cover your face with a veil
2.
( literary ) to cover sth with sth that hides it partly or completely
SYN shroud :
A fine drizzle began to veil the hills.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Anglo-Norman French veil(e) , from Latin vela , plural of velum sail, curtain, covering, veil .