1. a thin membrane or tissue that covers or separates body parts
Usage: anatomy
2. the soft palate at the back of the mouth
Usage: anatomy
3. a veil-like membrane in certain fungi or marine animals
Usage: biology

Examples

• The velum separates the nasal cavity from the mouth.
• During swallowing, the velum moves to close off the nasal passage.
• The mushroom’s velum protects the developing spores.
• Marine biologists studied the jellyfish’s velum structure.
• The velum helps control airflow during speech production.
• Damage to the velum can affect pronunciation of certain sounds.