velar
intransitive verb
Spanish to English
velar
velar(
beh
-
lahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
1. (to observe the deceased overnight)
Rafael murió en la mañana, y por la tarde lo vamos a velar.Rafael died this morning, and this afternoon we are going to keep vigil over him.
La gente se dirigía al panteón para velar a sus seres queridos difuntos.The crowd was headed toward the cemetery to keep vigil over their deceased loved ones.
b. to have a wake for
Velamos a mi tío anoche, y estoy exhausto.We had a wake for my uncle last night, and I'm exhausted.
2. (to care for a sick person overnight)
a. to sit up with
Julia veló a su hijo cuando estaba enfermo.Julia sat up with her son when he was sick.
3. (to partially conceal)
4. (photography)
5. (to cover with a veil)
a. to veil
Es costumbre velar la cara de la novia de camino al altar.It's tradition to veil the bride's face while she walks down the aisle.
6. (to envy) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to eye with envy
Muchos de mis amigos comenzaron a velar mi casa. Se volvieron celosos.Many of my friends started to eye my house with envy. They became jealous.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
7. (to go without sleeping)
a. to stay awake
Horacio veló toda la noche esperando una llamada de su novia.Horacio stayed awake all night waiting for a call from his girlfriend.
8. (to care for)
b. to watch over
La señora Moreno vela por los niños del barrio.Mrs. Moreno watches over the neighborhood children.
d. to ensure that
Para velar que nadie se vaya borracho de la fiesta, el anfitrión recoge las llaves al llegar.To ensure that no one leaves the party drunk, the host takes their keys when they arrive.
e. to safeguard
Este nuevo organismo del gobierno existe para velar por los derechos de los indígenas.This new government body exists to safeguard the rights of indigenous peoples.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).
velarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g. Miguel se lava.).
11. (to cover oneself with a veil)
a. to veil oneself
Aadila se ha velado desde que tenía 12 años.Aadila has veiled herself since she was 12 years old.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).
12. (photography)
a. to get exposed
El rollo se veló al pasar por los rayos X.The roll got exposed by passing through X-rays.
b. to get fogged
Se veló la imagen por un químico que se le cayó durante la revelación. The image got fogged by a chemical spilled during the developing process.
velarintransitive verbtransitive verbpronominal verb
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
1. (cuidar)
a.
velar porto look after, to watch over
2. (no dormir)
a. to stay awake
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
3. (de noche; muerto)
a. to keep a vigil over
4. (enfermo)
a. to sit up with
5. (ocultar)
a. to mask, to veil
6. (photography)
a. to damage by exposure to sunlight
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).
7. (photography)
a. to be damaged by exposure to sunlight
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
velar
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