veil
B2Formal to neutral; common in literary, religious, and figurative contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A piece of thin material worn to cover the face or head; something that conceals, separates, or obscures.
Any covering or curtain that hides something from view; a metaphorical barrier to understanding or perception; in biology, a membrane or layer of tissue.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries dual connotations of protection/purity (bridal, religious) and deception/concealment. Often used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and core meanings are identical. 'Take the veil' (become a nun) is slightly more common in UK historical/religious contexts.
Connotations
US usage slightly more common in figurative 'veil of secrecy' contexts; UK retains stronger religious/historical associations.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; slightly higher in UK in religious reporting.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
veil something (in/with something)be veiled inveil one's faceveil the truthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “draw a veil over something (to avoid discussing)”
- “beyond the veil (the unknown, especially afterlife)”
- “take the veil (become a nun)”
- “a veil of tears (a state of mourning)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'a veil of corporate secrecy', 'lift the veil on company finances'.
Academic
In social sciences: 'the veil of ignorance' (Rawls), 'veiling practices' in anthropology.
Everyday
Primarily for wedding attire or describing light coverings like mist.
Technical
In botany/biology: 'velum' or 'veil' referring to membranous covering; in optics: 'veiling glare'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The bride's antique lace veil was borrowed from her grandmother.
- A veil of fog descended upon the Yorkshire moors.
- The investigation tried to pierce the veil of official silence.
American English
- Her wedding veil flowed all the way to the floor.
- A veil of smoke hung over the city after the fireworks.
- The agreement was made behind a veil of confidentiality.
verb
British English
- The hills were veiled in a low mist.
- He carefully veiled his criticism with polite words.
- She veiled her face from the paparazzi.
American English
- The details of the merger are veiled in secrecy.
- She veiled her eyes with sunglasses.
- Mountains were veiled by the morning haze.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The princess wore a beautiful white veil.
- There is a veil on her hat.
- The cake had a thin veil of sugar.
- The fog veiled the view of the harbor.
- She lifted her veil to kiss the groom.
- His smile was a veil for his sadness.
- The government operates behind a veil of bureaucracy.
- The report lifts the veil on systemic corruption.
- Veiling traditions vary across different cultures.
- The poet uses the image of a veil to symbolize the divide between appearance and reality.
- Philosophers discuss the 'veil of ignorance' as a thought experiment for justice.
- The corporate veil protects shareholders from personal liability.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BRIDE at her wedding – she has a VEIL over her face. Both words contain the letters 'I' and 'E' together.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING; IGNORANCE IS A COVERING. (e.g., 'The report lifted the veil on corruption.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'vail' (archaic for lower/lower in respect) or 'vale' (valley). In Russian, 'вуаль' (vual') is a direct cognate but used more narrowly for face-covering fabric.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'vail' or 'vale'. Confusing verb form: 'She veiled her disappointment' (correct) vs. 'She veil her disappointment' (incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'veil' most likely used literally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While strongly associated with bridal wear, it is used for any face/head covering (e.g., mourning veil, religious veil) and very commonly in metaphorical senses (veil of secrecy).
A 'veil' suggests a thin, potentially see-through barrier that obscures but doesn't completely hide. A 'cloak' implies a thicker, more complete concealment. A 'mask' suggests a false appearance meant to deceive.
Yes. To 'veil' something means to cover or conceal it, either literally (with fabric, mist) or figuratively (the truth, emotions).
It's an idiomatic phrase referring to the unknown, particularly the spiritual realm or the afterlife. It originates from the veil separating the inner sanctuary in the biblical Temple.