velum

Plural: vela, velums

Noun

• A thin membranous covering or partition.
• a membranous covering attached to the immature fruiting body of certain mushrooms
• a muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking
• A thin membrane resembling a veil or curtain.
• The soft palate.
• A thin membrane resembling a veil or curtain.
• A thin membrane partially covering the cluster of sporangia near the leaf base in quillworts and their extinct relatives.
• A thin membrane resembling a veil or curtain.
• A veil-like membrane of immature mushrooms extending from the margin of the cap to the stem and is torn by growth, to reveal the gills.
• A thin membrane resembling a veil or curtain.
• A locomotory and feeding organ provided with cilia found in the larval stage of bivalves.
• A thin membrane resembling a veil or curtain.
• An annular membrane, typically bordering a cavity, especially in certain molluscs, medusae, and other invertebrates.
• A thin membrane resembling a veil or curtain.
• A delicate membrane found on certain protists.
• An accessory cloud resembling a veil extending over a large distance; normally associated with cumulus and cumulonimbus.

Examples

• He could just barely fit VELUM into the small opening on the Scrabble board.

Synonyms

soft palate, veil