velar

[ vee-ler ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a velum, especially the soft palate.
2. Phonetics. articulated with the back of the tongue held close to or touching the soft palate.

noun

1. Phonetics. a velar sound.

velar

/ ˈviːlə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or attached to a velum

   velar tentacles

2. phonetics articulated with the soft palate and the back of the tongue, as in the sounds ( k ), ( ɡ ), or ( ŋ )

Other Words From

• post·velar adjective
• pseudo·velar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of velar¹

From the Latin word vēlāris, dating back to 1720–30. See velum, -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of velar¹

C18: from Latin vēlāris, from vēlum veil

Example Sentences

Also called velar (from velum, for which see § 8) and more usually, but less accurately, guttural.

From Project Gutenberg

The metastoma, which has become in Ammocœtes the lower lip supplied by the velar or mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve ; 2.

From Project Gutenberg

What, then, are these velar folds, and how is it that the tubular muscles of these two segments become the velar muscles?

From Project Gutenberg

This is that part of the velar folds which comes together in the middle line and closes the entrance into the respiratory chamber.

From Project Gutenberg

The velar or mandibular nerve supplies in Ammocœtes the muscles of the lower lip.

From Project Gutenberg