veil

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Clothes

veil1 /veɪl/ ●○○ noun [countable]  1  DCCa thin piece of material that women wear to cover their faces at formal occasions or for religious reasons 面纱 She lifted her veil with both hands. 她用双手揭开面纱。 a bridal veil 新娘的面纱2. the veil RRIthe system in Islamic countries in which women must cover their hair and faces in public 〔伊斯兰国家的妇女在公共场所〕戴面纱的习俗3  draw a veil over something formalHIDE/NOT SHOW to avoid talking about something that happened in the past because it is unpleasant or embarrassing 把某事掩盖起来；避而不谈某事〔指不愉快或令人难堪的事〕 I think it best to draw a veil over the whole incident. 我认为这整件事最好是避而不谈。4  veil of secrecy/deceit/silence etc formalMYSTERIOUS something that hides the truth about a situation 神秘/虚假/沉默等的面纱 Watson deserves credit for lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding Brenda’s death. 揭开布伦达之死的神秘面纱是华生的功劳。 His pornography was covered by a veil of respectability. 他的色情作品蒙盖着体面的面纱。5  veil of mist/cloud/smoke etc DNa thin layer of mist, cloud etc that makes it difficult to see clearly 一层薄雾/云/烟雾等 The moon was hidden behind a veil of clouds. 月亮躲在薄薄的云层后面。6. take the veil old-fashioned to become a nun 当修女

Examples from the Corpus

veil• The client has thrown a veil of secrecy over the development, with contractors reluctant to discuss the project.• As the road climbed upward, gray-white cloud veils drifted among the dales, chiffon scarves of some giant Isadora Duncan.• Shaped like straw mushrooms, they are completely clear except for a gossamer veil which makes up their body.• The snow had come again, its veil dropping between Gentle and Pie.• What is behind a hijab, the veil that means a barrier?• But through the veil of darkness I got the sense that this would be a special trip.• One day an older woman who wore the veil cursed her and accused her of being loose.• The white pony comes complete with veil, wedding cake, wedding ring, comb and ribbon, for perfect grooming!veil2 verb [transitive]  1  be veiled in mystery/secrecy etc formal if something is veiled in mystery etc, people do not know the truth about it so it seems strange or mysterious 罩着神秘/隐秘的面纱 The details of the evacuation are veiled in secrecy. 撤离的细节秘而不宣。2  COVERto cover something with a veil 以面纱掩盖 A black kerchief modestly veiled her hair. 一条黑色头巾端庄地裹着她的头发。3  literary to partly hide something so that it cannot be seen clearly 遮掩 A fine rain was beginning to veil the hills. 蒙蒙的细雨渐渐笼罩了群山。→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

veil• She stood up straight, wiped at her face and seemed alarmed to find it veiled.• Basil Rocke had a very puckish sense of humour and wryness which veiled a deep kindliness.• We saw the moon appear and disappear, veiled by clouds.• Thinly veiled corporate speak acknowledged the clash.• The women were veiled from head to foot.• Dole passed up two thinly veiled invitations by moderator Jim Lehrer to address so-called character issues.Origin veil1 (1100-1200) Old North French veile, from Latin vela, plural of velum “sail, curtain, cloth, veil”

veil1 nounveil2 verbChinese  

a material piece thin women wear to that Corpus of

veil

I

veil¹ /veɪl/ noun [countable]1. a thin piece of material that women wear to cover their faces at formal occasions or for religious reasons:
    She lifted her veil with both hands.
    a bridal veil
2. the veil the system in Islamic countries in which women must cover their hair and faces in public
3. draw a veil over something formal to avoid talking about something that happened in the past because it is unpleasant or embarrassing:
    I think it best to draw a veil over the whole incident.
4. veil of secrecy/deceit/silence etc formal something that hides the truth about a situation:
    Watson deserves credit for lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding Brenda’s death.
    His pornography was covered by a veil of respectability.
5. veil of mist/cloud/smoke etc a thin layer of mist, cloud etc that makes it difficult to see clearly:
    The moon was hidden behind a veil of clouds.
6. take the veil old-fashioned to become a nun

II

veil² verb [transitive]
1. be veiled in mystery/secrecy etc formal if something is veiled in mystery etc, people do not know the truth about it so it seems strange or mysterious:
    The details of the evacuation are veiled in secrecy.
2. to cover something with a veil:
    A black kerchief modestly veiled her hair.
3. literary to partly hide something so that it cannot be seen clearly:
    A fine rain was beginning to veil the hills.