veil

noun \ ˈvāl \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of veil

1 a : a length of cloth worn by women as a covering for the head and shoulders and often especially in Eastern countries for the face; specifically : the outer covering of a nun's headdress

b : a length of veiling or netting worn over the head or face or attached for protection or ornament to a hat or headdress

a bridal veil

c : any of various liturgical cloths; especially : a cloth used to cover the chalice

2 : the life of a nun —often used in the phrase take the veil

3 : a concealing curtain or cover of cloth

4 : something that resembles a veil

a veil of stars

; especially : something that hides or obscures like a veil

lift the veil of secrecy

5 : a covering body part or membrane: such as

a : velum

b : caul

See veil defined for English-language learners

See veil defined for kids

Examples of veil in a Sentence

Veils of moss draped the trees.
under the veil of descending darkness the thieves began their operation

Recent Examples of veil from the Web

London The French Impressionist Claude Monet’s paintings of landscape, lush gardens and the sea as captured in sunlight or through veils of atmospheric effects have largely defined our perception of his art and its appeal to modern viewers.

— mary tompkins lewis, WSJ, "‘Monet & Architecture’ Review: Watching a Painter Build His Career," 7 Apr. 2018
Since the shooting of 17 people at a school in Parkland, Florida, in February, many Americans have experienced a similar lifting of the veil on the gun lobby and its self-serving arguments.

— The Economist, "Senator Chris Murphy has become a leader on gun-control," 5 Apr. 2018
Join the Boise State Physics Department to hear professor Jason Barnes of the University of Idaho and Deputy Project Scientist on Dragonfly discuss how the mission will lift the veil on Saturn’s most mysterious moon.

— michelle jenkins, idahostatesman, "April showers us with fresh produce, jazz and laughs | Idaho Statesman," 31 Mar. 2018
The Facebook case is lifting the veil on some of Cambridge Analytica's actions and tactics.

— kim hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, "Cambridge Analytica active in elections, big data projects for years," 22 Mar. 2018
There is reason to fear that astronomy is ending its long run of lifting the veil on cosmic wonders.

— martin elvis, Scientific American, "To Keep NASA's Golden Age Alive, We Need More Telescopes--but Far Less Expensive Ones," 21 Mar. 2018
Later, a woman casts ashes into the ocean while Aiko looks on from behind a veil.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "Jhené Aiko Literally Has A Funeral For Her Ex's Ego In The "Never Call Me" Video," 20 Mar. 2018
Pruitt, who operates behind a veil of secrecy, declined to be interviewed for this program.

— chris ball, cleveland.com, "Stephen King's 'It' now on DVD and Blu-ray (review)," 15 Jan. 2018
What’s important is the understanding of what’s behind the veil.

— Bloomberg.com, "FBI Task Force to Expose Russian Social Media Manipulation," 10 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'veil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of veil

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin vēla, plural of vēlum "sail, awning, curtain," going back to *u̯eg-s-lo-, perhaps derivative of a verbal base *u̯eg-, akin to Old Irish -fig- "weaves," Old English wēoce "wick" — more at ¹wick

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

veil Synonyms

Synonyms

blanket, cloak, cope, cover, cover-up, covering, curtain, hood, mantle, mask, pall, robe, shroud, wraps;

Related Words

blind, concealer, screen, shield;

fig leaf, Trojan horse;

camouflage, disguise, facade (also façade), face, mask, veneer;

gloss, varnish;

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

veil

verb

Definition of veil

transitive verb

: to cover, provide, obscure, or conceal with or as if with a veil

intransitive verb

: to put on or wear a veil

See veil defined for English-language learners

Examples of veil in a Sentence

Her eyes were partially veiled by her long, dark hair.
The sun was veiled by clouds.

Recent Examples of veil from the Web

Mixing pigment into wax — an encaustic technique traced to ancient Egypt, though rarely employed in contemporary art — creates a lumpy, optically veiled surface.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "Does the Broad's new Jasper Johns exhibition hit the bull's-eye? It gets darn close," 9 Feb. 2018
Here’s a video in which Karl Stefanovic, the male anchor of an Australia’s Today show barely veils his disgust for the creature, which, given Pat’s charisma, is frankly hard to fathom.

— douglas main, Newsweek, "The World’s Oldest, And Possibly Largest, Wombat Turns 29," 26 Aug. 2014
Just because the operation was thinly veiled, however, does not mean that the Russian trolling — creating provocative online posts about immigration, religion and race to try to sway voters — lacked high-level support.

— neil macfarquhar, New York Times, "Russian Trolls Were Sloppy, but Indictment Still ‘Points at the Kremlin’," 17 Feb. 2018
The entire cocoon, or chrysalis, will then be veiled in a shroud of clear balloons with a hint of iridescence.

— lisa deaderick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Top weekend events: Martin Luther King Jr. parade, 'Crystal Cortex,' Karl Denson's Tiny Universe," 12 Jan. 2018
Better yet is the spicy ahi, veiled in mayonnaise with a streak of heat.

— author: ligaya mishan, Anchorage Daily News, "Heading home to Hawaii in search of poke," 10 Jan. 2018
Other critics say some churches skirt this prohibition anyway by participating in get-out-the-vote drives and discussing social issues in neighborhoods and towns where political passions and motives are thinly veiled.

— stephen koff, cleveland.com, "Divorce, unborn babies, churches and health care: 8 surprises in the Republican tax plan," 3 Nov. 2017
The sun also seems to be veiled by a wall of smoke muffling its normal brilliance.

— erik lacitis, The Seattle Times, "How to describe Seattle’s recent smoky skies? We turned to the experts — artists and writers," 8 Sep. 2017
The Wilis are 18 veiled, ghostly maidens betrayed by their lovers, who haunt the forest seeking revenge by dancing men to death.

— lauren warnecke, chicagotribune.com, "Joffrey Ballet sets aside its modern lines and embraces 'Giselle'," 19 Oct. 2017

Origin and Etymology of veil

Middle English veilen, borrowed from Anglo-French veler, verbal derivative of veil ¹veil

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

veil Synonyms

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

VEIL Defined for English Language Learners

veil

noun

Definition of veil for English Language Learners

: a piece of cloth or net worn usually by women over the head and shoulders and sometimes over the face
: something that covers or hides something else

veil

verb

Definition of veil for English Language Learners

: to cover (something) with a veil or with something that is like a veil : to hide or partly hide (something)

VEIL Defined for Kids

veil

noun \ ˈvāl \

Definition of veil for Students

1 : a piece of cloth or net worn usually by women over the head and shoulders and sometimes over the face

2 : something that covers or hides like a veil

a veil of secrecy

Her hazel eyes, under their veil of long lashes, had a greenish flash to them.
—Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain

veil

verb

Definition of veil for Students

veiled; veiling

: to cover with or as if with a piece of cloth or net for the head and shoulders or face

Medical Dictionary

veil

noun \ ˈvā(ə)l \

medical Definition of veil

: a covering body part or membrane; especially : caul 2

Learn More about veil

See words that rhyme with veil Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for veil Spanish Central: Translation of veil Nglish: Translation of veil for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of veil for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about veil

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veil

Definition of veil

Examples of veil in a Sentence

Recent Examples of veil from the Web

Origin and Etymology of veil

veil Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Clothing Terms

veil

Definition of veil

Examples of veil in a Sentence

Recent Examples of veil from the Web

Origin and Etymology of veil

veil Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Clothing Terms

Phrases Related to VEIL

Related Phrases

VEIL Defined for English Language Learners

veil

Definition of veil for English Language Learners

veil

Definition of veil for English Language Learners

VEIL Defined for Kids

veil

Definition of veil for Students

veil

Definition of veil for Students

Medical Dictionary

veil

medical Definition of veil

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