Added 10 October 2026
velum
/ˈviː.ləm/ noun
Latin root: vēlum Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about velum at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A membranous covering attached to the immature fruiting body of certain mushrooms.
- A muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking.
Origin
Borrowed from Latin vēlum (“a cloth, covering, awning, curtain, veil”). Doublet of veil.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)