velum

American  

[vee-luhm] / ˈvi ləm /

noun

plural

vela, velum

1. Biology. any of various veillike or curtainlike membranous partitions.

2. Anatomy. the soft palate. palate1

3. Meteorology. a thin cloud, large in horizontal area, that is draped over or penetrated by cumuliform clouds.

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velum British  

/ ˈviːləm /

noun

1. zoology any of various membranous structures, such as the ciliated oral membrane of certain mollusc larvae or the veil-like membrane running around the rim of a jellyfish

2. anatomy any of various veil-like bodily structures, esp the soft palate

3. botany another word for veil

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Etymology

Origin of velum

First recorded in 1765–75, velum is from the Latin word vēlum sail, covering

Example Sentences

In adolescents and adults, if the cleft is wide and the soft tissues of the palate are thin and atrophied, better physiological results may be obtained by the use of an artificial obturator or velum.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

These veins pass along the centre of the velum, and, as is shown in fig.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various

At the base of the tongue is the prominent transverse fold, noted in connection with figure 7, that meets above the velum palitinum, not shown here but shown in figure 7.

From Development of the Digestive Canal of the American Alligator by Reese, C. M.

There are about 40 tentacles, the velum at the base of which extends upwards for a considerable distance without being festooned.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson

The medusoids have a muscular velum of ectoderm and mesogloea only.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various