veiling

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   the practice or act of covering the head or face with a veil, especially for religious or cultural reasons

   Grammar: Uncountable; used with a singular verb: Veiling is common in some cultures.

   Patterns

   • the veiling of women
   • veiling practices
   • religious veiling

   The veiling of women is a tradition in some Muslim communities.

   The debate about veiling in public places continues in many countries.

   She wrote a book on the history of veiling in the Middle East.

2. 2noununcountable

   a thin, light fabric, often transparent, used for making veils or as a decorative covering

   Grammar: Uncountable; refers to the material itself, not individual pieces.

   Patterns

   • a piece of veiling
   • white veiling

   The bride's veil was made of delicate veiling.

   She bought some veiling to make curtains.

Common combinations

religious veiling

Religious veiling is a personal choice for many women.

the veiling of women

The veiling of women has a long history in the region.

veiling practices

Veiling practices vary widely among different communities.

a piece of veiling

She used a piece of veiling to cover the window.

Synonyms and how they differ

covering

A more general word for anything that covers; 'veiling' is specific to a veil or the practice of wearing one.

hijab

Refers specifically to the head covering worn by some Muslim women, not the practice in general.

Word family

veil noun

A piece of thin material worn to cover the face or head.

veil verb

To cover with a veil or something similar.

veiled adjective

Covered with a veil; also used figuratively for hidden meanings.

Commonly confused: veiling or vailing?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “veiling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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