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Velum (Noun)

A muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking.

Nouns denoting body parts.

The velum, or soft palate, helps separate the oral cavity from the nasal cavity and is crucial in producing distinct sounds.
The position and movement of the velum determine the route of airflow in the mouth and nose.
A highly elevated velum closes off the nasal passage completely to facilitate clear speech and food passage.
Cleft palate conditions may be related to improper formation of the velum during fetal development.
By the combined actions of the velum, epiglottis, and vocal cords, our airway passage performs intricate air diversion to switch from swallowing to speaking modes seamlessly.

A membranous covering attached to the immature fruiting body of certain mushrooms.

Nouns denoting plants.

The velum covers and protects the delicate gills of the mushroom during its early development stage.
A tear in the velum exposes the mushroom's gills, signaling it is ready to release spores.
Some mushroom species have a thick, fleshy velum that breaks apart as the cap expands.
In many Amanita species, the remnants of the velum form a ring or annulus around the stem.
When a mushroom is young, the velum completely covers the gills, and only starts to break apart as it matures.