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velum |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Veil \Veil\ (v[=a]l), 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}.] 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. The veil of the temple was rent in twain. --Matt. xxvii. 51. She as a veil down to the slender waist, Her unadorn['e]d golden tresses wore. --Milton. 2. A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense. [I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page. --Shak. 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}. 4. (Eccl.) A covering for a person or thing as a nun's veil; a paten veil; an altar veil. 5. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Velum}, 3. {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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Velum \Ve"lum\, n.; pl {Vela}. [L., an awning, a veil. See {Veil}.] 1. (Anat.) Curtain or covering; -- applied to various membranous partitions, especially to the soft palate. See under {Palate}. 2. (Bot.) a See {Veil}, n., 3 b . b A thin membrane surrounding the sporocarps of quillworts {Isoetes}). 3. (Zo["o]l.) A veil-like organ or part Especially: a The circular membrane that partially incloses the space beneath the umbrella of hydroid medus[ae]. b A delicate funnel-like membrane around the flagellum of certain Infusoria. See Illust. a of {Protozoa}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: 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}]
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