veil
/veɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /veɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvāl/ (ame, mw)
veil — noun
- veilsingular
- veilsplural
1. a piece of see-through or light fabric that a woman wears over her face or head,
a piece of see-through or light fabric that a woman wears over her face or head, often for religious, cultural, or ceremonial reasons
Sumin wore a white veil over her face during the wedding ceremony.
collocation: wedding veil / bridal veil
In some cultures, the bride's veil is lifted by the groom after the marriage vows.
passive: lifted by [person] after [event]
The dancer's veil was decorated with small gold coins that sparkled in the light.
Imani adjusted her veil before walking into the church with her father.
A thin veil of black lace covered the woman's face at the funeral.
常見錯誤
2. the state or way of life that comes from entering a convent and becoming a nun,
the state or way of life that comes from entering a convent and becoming a nun, marked by the ceremony of taking the veil
After ten years of prayer and service, Sister Eve finally took the veil.
fixed phrase: take the veil
The documentary follows three young women who decide to take the veil.
Her grandmother took the veil at twenty-two and lived in the convent for sixty years.
The bishop blessed the young women who came to take the veil at the cathedral.
- enter a convent
describes the action without the ceremonial imagery
- become a nun
a more general, modern expression
用法筆記
Used only in the fixed phrase 'take the veil.' This sense is predominantly found in historical or religious contexts about Catholic and Anglican traditions.
3. the practice of a Muslim woman choosing to cover her head or face with a scarf o
the practice of a Muslim woman choosing to cover her head or face with a scarf or similar garment as an expression of her faith
Saira decided to adopt the veil after her pilgrimage to Mecca last year.
collocation: adopt the veil
Many schools in the region now allow girls to wear the veil if they choose.
Lan explained that wearing the veil gives her a strong sense of identity and peace.
Yael chose to wear the veil in solidarity with her Muslim classmates at university.
用法筆記
In modern usage, more specific terms such as 'hijab,' 'niqab,' or 'burqa' are often preferred. 'Veil' is a broader, less precise term for Muslim head and face coverings.
常見錯誤
4. a thin layer of something such as fog, cloud, smoke, or dust that covers an area
a thin layer of something such as fog, cloud, smoke, or dust that covers an area and makes it difficult to see through
A light veil of mist covered the harbour, hiding the boats from view.
pattern: a veil of [fog/mist/smoke/dust]
The morning fog formed a soft veil over the rice fields in the valley.
Through the veil of smoke, the firefighters could see the trapped cat on the roof.
A veil of dust rose from the road as the truck drove past the children.
文法句型
a veil of + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used with natural phenomena (fog, mist, smoke, dust) in the pattern 'a veil of + noun.' Unlike sense 1, this does not refer to a piece of fabric but to any obscuring layer.
常見錯誤
5. something that hides the truth or stops people from understanding what is really
something that hides the truth or stops people from understanding what is really happening in a situation
The company's financial dealings were hidden behind a veil of secrecy for years.
collocation: veil of secrecy
The police tried to lift the veil of silence that surrounded the missing child's case.
collocation: lift the veil of [silence/mystery]
A veil of mystery still surrounds the ancient tomb discovered near the river.
Christopher knew that the politician's promises were a veil to hide his real intentions.
- disclosure
the act of making something known
- revelation
the revealing of hidden truth
文法句型
a veil of + abstract noun
用法筆記
Common in the pattern 'a veil of + abstract noun' (secrecy, silence, mystery, ignorance). Unlike sense 4, which involves physical obscuring, this sense is about hiding information or truth.
6. to choose not to talk any further about a particular topic because it is embarra
to choose not to talk any further about a particular topic because it is embarrassing, painful, or likely to cause disagreement
After the argument, the family decided to draw a veil over what was said.
fixed phrase: draw a veil over [something]
Mark suggested they draw a veil over the incident and focus on the future instead.
The official report draws a veil over the government's mistakes during the crisis.
Cyrus asked his friends to draw a veil over the embarrassing joke at dinner.
- hush up
informal, implies deliberately keeping something secret
- gloss over
to treat a problem as less serious than it is
- sweep under the rug
informal idiom, to hide a problem rather than deal with it
文法句型
draw a veil over + noun
用法筆記
Used only in the fixed phrase 'draw a veil over something.' This is a more formal, idiomatic way of saying 'stop discussing,' common in British English and often found in written or formal spoken contexts.
常見錯誤
veil — verb
- veilpresent simple I / you / we / they
- veils3rd person singular
- veiling-ing form
- veiledpast simple
1. to put a veil over your own or someone else's face, or to cover something with a
to put a veil over your own or someone else's face, or to cover something with a thin, light fabric
The bride was veiled in white lace from head to toe at the ceremony.
passive: be veiled in [fabric]
Dewi veiled her face before stepping out into the crowded market square.
In the old painting, the woman's face is partially veiled by a silk scarf.
The widow veiled herself in black as she entered the church for the service.
- unveil
to remove a veil or covering from
文法句型
veil + noun
veil + reflexive pronoun
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice ('be veiled in + fabric/colour') or reflexively ('veil oneself'). The participle 'veiled' is also common as an adjective describing a covered face or object.
常見錯誤
2. to hide something, such as information, feelings, or intentions, so that others
to hide something, such as information, feelings, or intentions, so that others cannot see or understand them clearly
The government's report was veiled in confusing language that hid the real facts.
passive: be veiled in [abstract noun]
Heloísa tried to veil her disappointment with a polite smile at the news.
Sana's cheerful tone could not veil the worry she felt about her father's test results.
The treaty was deliberately veiled in complex terms to confuse the public.
Folake's disappointment was thinly veiled behind a polite smile at the award ceremony.
文法句型
veil + noun
be veiled in + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive constructions with 'in' ('be veiled in secrecy/mystery/language'). The participle 'veiled' often appears as 'thinly veiled' to describe barely concealed emotions or intentions.