# veil

/ˈveɪɫ/ (US) · /vˈeɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/veil
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. facial covering

noun · CEFR B2

a thin piece of fabric worn over the head or face, often for religious reasons or at a wedding.

For teachers: a garment of sheer fabric worn over the head or face for concealment, protection, or as part of ceremonial or religious dress.

- The bride lifted her veil just before the couple shared their first kiss.
- In many cultures, the veil serves as a complex symbol of modesty, social status, or religious devotion, depending on the specific historical context.

### 2. figurative barrier

noun · CEFR B2

something that hides the truth or prevents you from seeing a situation clearly.

For teachers: a figurative barrier or concealment that obscures the true nature of a situation or entity.

- The company hid its financial problems behind a veil of secrecy.
- The intelligence agency operated behind a thick veil of anonymity, making it nearly impossible for journalists to identify the lead investigators.

### 3. fungal/marine membrane

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a thin layer of tissue that covers a young mushroom or part of a jellyfish.

For teachers: a delicate membrane in biological structures, such as the velum of a medusa or the tissue connecting a mushroom cap to its stalk.

- As the mushroom grows, the veil breaks to reveal the gills underneath.
- The partial veil remains visible as a ring around the stipe once the pileus has fully expanded during the fruiting stage.

### 4. to hide or cover

verb · CEFR B2

to cover something with a cloth or to hide the truth about something.

For teachers: to cover with a veil or to obscure something so as to render it indistinct or hidden.

- Mist began to veil the mountains as the sun started to set.
- The diplomat carefully veiled his criticism in polite language to avoid causing a major international incident during the summit.

## Examples

- The bride wore a long white veil over her face.
- The government's secrecy acted as a veil that kept the public from seeing the true cost of the project.
- Historians are still trying to lift the veil of mystery surrounding the ancient civilization's sudden and unexplained disappearance from the region.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.