What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Alive vs Veil - What's the difference?

alive | veil |

As an adjective alive

is having life, in opposition to dead; living; being in a state in which the organs perform their functions; as, an animal or a plant which is alive.

As a noun veil is

something hung up, or spread out, to hide an object from view; usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphanous material, to hide or protect the face.

As a verb veil is

to don, or garb with, a veil.

alive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having life, in opposition to dead; living; being in a state in which the organs perform their functions; as, an animal or a plant which is alive.
  • In a state of action; in force or operation; unextinguished; unexpired; existent
  • to keep the fire alive'; to keep the affections ' alive .
  • Exhibiting the activity and motion of many living beings; swarming; thronged.
  • The Boyne, for a quarter of a mile, was alive with muskets and green boughs. -- .
  • Sprightly; lively; brisk.
  • Having susceptibility; easily impressed; having lively feelings, as opposed to apathy; sensitive.
  • Tremblingly alive to nature's laws. -- .
  • As intensifier, of all living.
  • Northumberland was the proudest man alive . --.

    Usage notes

    * As intensifier, used colloquially "man alive!", "sakes alive!". * Alive always follows the noun which it qualifies.

    Antonyms

    * dead

    Derived terms

    * alive and kicking * aliveness * Christ alive * dead or alive * eat someone alive * keep hope alive * man alive * snakes alive

    Anagrams

    *

    veil

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something hung up, or spread out, to hide an object from view; usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphanous material, to hide or protect the face.
  • * Bible, Matthew xxvii. 51
  • The veil of the temple was rent in twain.
  • * Milton
  • She, as a veil down to the slender waist, / Her unadorned golden tresses wore.
  • A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense.
  • * Shakespeare
  • [I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page.
  • * 2007 . Zerzan, John. Silence . p. 4.
  • Beckett complains that "in the forest of symbols" there is never quiet, and longs to break through the veil of language to silence.
  • The calyptra of mosses.
  • A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a mushroom with the stalk; -- called also velum.
  • A covering for a person or thing; as, a caul; a nun's veil; a paten veil; an altar veil; a Moslem veil.
  • (zoology) velum (A circular membrane round the cap of medusa)
  • (mycology) A thin layer of tissue which is attached to or covers a mushroom.
  • Verb

  • To don, or garb with, a veil.
  • To conceal as with a veil.
  • The forest fire was veiled by smoke, but I could hear it clearly.