velum Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a membranous covering attached to the immature fruiting body of certain mushrooms
    veil.
  2. noun a muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking
    soft palate.

WordNet

Ve"lum noun
Etymology
L., an awning, a veil. See Veil.
Wordforms
plural Vela
Definitions
  1. (Anat.) Curtain or covering; -- applied to various membranous partitions, especially to the soft palate. See under Palate.
  2. (Bot.) (a) See Veil, n., 3 (b) A thin membrane surrounding the sporocarps of quillworts Isoetes).
  3. (Zoöl.) A veil-like organ or part. Especially: (a) The circular membrane that partially incloses the space beneath the umbrella of hydroid medusæ. (b) A delicate funnel-like membrane around the flagellum of certain Infusoria. See Illust. a of Protozoa.

Webster 1913