Meaning & use
velum
Last updated
A membranous, curtain-like part of the body or an organism, especially the soft palate at the back of the roof of the mouth.
See it in a sentence
The velum rises to close off the nasal passage during swallowing.
Biologists also use 'velum' to describe the thin membrane found in certain jellyfish and mushrooms.
A note on using this word
A technical anatomical and biological term; in mushrooms, the velum is the thin veil that covers the gills before the cap opens.
Words with a similar meaning
soft palate
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “velum”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.