From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishveilveil1 /veɪl/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 DCCa thin piece of material that women wear to cover their faces at formal occasions or for religious reasons She lifted her veil with both hands. a bridal veil2 → the veil3 → draw a veil over something4 → veil of secrecy/deceit/silence etc5 → veil of mist/cloud/smoke etc6 → take the veil
Examples from the Corpus
veil• The client has thrown a veil of secrecy over the development, with contractors reluctant to discuss the project.• As the road climbed upward, gray-white cloud veils drifted among the dales, chiffon scarves of some giant Isadora Duncan.• Shaped like straw mushrooms, they are completely clear except for a gossamer veil which makes up their body.• The snow had come again, its veil dropping between Gentle and Pie.• What is behind a hijab, the veil that means a barrier?• But through the veil of darkness I got the sense that this would be a special trip.• One day an older woman who wore the veil cursed her and accused her of being loose.• The white pony comes complete with veil, wedding cake, wedding ring, comb and ribbon, for perfect grooming!veilveil2 verb [transitive] 1 → be veiled in mystery/secrecy etc2 COVERto cover something with a veil A black kerchief modestly veiled her hair.3 literary to partly hide something so that it cannot be seen clearly A fine rain was beginning to veil the hills.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
veil• She stood up straight, wiped at her face and seemed alarmed to find it veiled.• Basil Rocke had a very puckish sense of humour and wryness which veiled a deep kindliness.• We saw the moon appear and disappear, veiled by clouds.• Thinly veiled corporate speak acknowledged the clash.• The women were veiled from head to foot.• Dole passed up two thinly veiled invitations by moderator Jim Lehrer to address so-called character issues.Origin veil1 (1100-1200) Old North French veile, from Latin vela, plural of velum “sail, curtain, cloth, veil” 