velum

ve·lum  (vlm)

n. pl. ve·la (-l)

1. Biology A covering or partition of thin membranous tissue, such as the veil of a mushroom or a membrane of the brain.

2. Anatomy The soft palate.

3. Zoology A ciliated swimming organ that develops in certain larval stages of most marine gastropod mollusks.

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[Latin vlum, veil.]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	velum - a membranous covering attached to the immature fruiting body of certain mushrooms veil plant part, plant structure - any part of a plant or fungus universal veil - membrane initially completely investing the young sporophore of various mushrooms that is ruptured by growth; represented in the mature mushroom by a volva around lower part of stem and scales on upper surface of the cap partial veil - membrane of the young sporophore of various mushrooms extending from the margin of the cap to the stem and is ruptured by growth; represented in mature mushroom by an annulus around the stem and sometimes a cortina on the margin of the cap
	2.	velum - a muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking soft palate uvula - a small pendant fleshy lobe at the back of the soft palate palate, roof of the mouth - the upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities flap - a movable piece of tissue partly connected to the body