| V, v (noun) | the twenty-second letter of the alphabet. |
| vacancy (noun) | 1 an empty space. 2 a job to be filled (advertise vacancies in the paper). |
| vacant (adjective) | 1 empty, not occupied (vacant flats). 2 unthinking (in a vacant mood). adv vacantly |
| vacate (verb) | 1 (formal) to leave empty (vacate the flat). 2 to give up (vacate his position in the firm). |
| vacation (noun) | a period away from home for rest or relaxation. |
| vaccinate (verb) | to inject with vaccine or with fluids giving protection against diseases. n vaccination |
| vaccine (noun) | a substance made from the germs that cause a particular disease and given to someone to prevent the disease. smallpox vaccine fluid taken from a cow infected with cowpox and injected into a person’s bloodstream to cause a mild attack of smallpox and so protect against worse attacks later. |
| Vaccinophobia | fear of vaccination (see list of phobias) |
| vacillate (verb) | (formal) to keep on changing your mind, to hesitate to come to a decision (vacillate about moving house). n vacillation |
| vacuous (adjective) | 1 (formal) empty, meaningless (a vacuous life). 2 without expression (look vacuous). |
| vacuum (noun) | a space from which all the air has been taken. |
| vacuum cleaner (noun) | a machine that cleans carpets, etc, by sucking dust into a bag. |
| vagabond (noun) | a person who wanders aimlessly from place to place. adj wandering. |
| vagary (noun) | a piece of odd or unexpected behavior (the vagaries of human life/the vagaries of the weather). |
| vagrant (adjective) | wandering. n a wanderer or hobo. n vagrancy |
| vague (adjective) | not clear, not definite (a vague idea of where he might be). adv vaguely n vagueness |
| vain (adjective) | 1 having no meaning or value (vain words). 2 too proud of yourself (so vain that he is always looking in the mirror). 3 useless (a vain attempt to swim the river). adv vainly in vain without result or effect. |
| valance (noun) | a short drapery hanging from a couch, bedstead, etc, to the floor. |
| vale (noun) | (formal) a valley. |
| valediction (noun) | (formal) a farewell. adj valedictory |
| valency (noun) | the power of chemical elements to combine. |
| valentine (noun) | 1 a person who is chosen as a lover or beloved on St Valentine’s Day, February 14. 2 a card expressing love sent on this day. |
| valet (noun) | a man’s personal servant. |
| valiant (adjective) | brave (a valiant attempt to save the drowning man). adv valiantly |
| valid (adjective) | 1 correct according to law (a regulation no longer valid). 2 good, sound (asked to validate her husband’s alibi). n validity |
| validate (verb) | (formal) to make valid. |
| valley (noun) | the low ground between neighboring hills or mountains, often watered by a river. |
| valor (noun), | also valour (British spelling) bravery, courage (pay tribute to the valor of the soldiers). adj valorous |
| valuable (adjective) | 1 of great worth or importance (valuable advice). 2 costly (valuable jewels). |
| valuables (noun, plural) | precious things (have her valuables insured). |
| valuation (noun) | the estimated worth, price, or importance of a thing (ask for a valuation of the property). |
| value (noun) | 1 worth, importance (information that was of value to the police). 2 price, cost (the marked value of the vase). npl the standards by which you judge the worth of things (moral values). adj valueless |
| valuer (noun) | a person who estimates the value of things. |
| valve (noun) | 1 a device that, when opened, allows gas, air, fluid, etc, to pass through in one direction only. 2 in radio sets, a device by which you can control the power of waves transmitted or received. |
| vamp (noun) | the upper part of a boot or shoe. vb to play music made up as you play. |
| vampire (noun) | 1 in old stories, a ghost supposed to suck the blood of the living. 2 a bloodsucking bat. |
| van1 (noun) | a covered wagon for goods or animals. |
| van2 | short for vanguard. |
| vandal (noun) | a person who purposefully and pointlessly destroys or damages public buildings or other property. n vandalism vb vandalize , also vandalise (British spelling) |
| vane | Collective noun for directions (A vane of directions) (see list of collective nouns) |
| vane (noun) | 1 a weathercock. 2 the blade of a windmill, propeller, etc. |
| vanguard (noun) | 1 the front part of an army or fleet. 2 those leading the way. abbreviation van. |
| vanilla (noun) | a flavoring prepared from a tropical plant (a dessert flavored with vanilla essence). |
| vanish (verb) | 1 to disappear (the chill seems to have vanished). 2 to pass out of sight (the car vanished around the corner). |
| vanity (noun) | 1 lack of meaning or value (the vanity of human ambition). 2 too great pride in yourself, conceit (she was disliked for her vanity). |
| vanquish (verb) | to defeat completely (vanquish the enemy). |
| vantage (noun) | 1 (old) advantage. 2 a point in lawn tennis (after deuce). |
| vantage point (noun) | a good position (the hill was a good vantage point from which to see the procession). |
| vapid (adjective) | lacking in spirit, dull (so vapid as to bore everyone). |
| vapor (noun), | also vapour (British spelling) 1 the gas given off by a body when sufficiently heated. 2 mist. |
| vaporize (verb), | also vaporise (British spelling) to turn into vapor. |
| variable (adjective) | 1 quick to change (variable in her opinions). 2 changing often or easily (variable temperature). |
| variance (noun) | at variance with in disagreement with. |
| variant (noun) | a different or alternative form. adj different (variant spellings of the word). |
| variation (noun) | change, difference (variations in temperature). |
| varicose (adjective) | varicose veins swollen veins. |
| varied (adjective) | including many different things. |
| variegate (verb) | to mark with different colors (the leaves were variegated). adj variegated. |
| variety (noun) | 1 the state of being different. 2 a collection of different or slightly different things. 3 a class or species. 4 a theater show with performers of different kinds. |
| various (adjective) | of several different types (various pets, such as cats, dogs, and rabbits). |
| varmint (noun) | (informal) 1 an animal regarded as a pest. 2 a despicable person. |
| varnish (noun) | a clear, sticky liquid used to give a shiny surface to wood, metal, paper, etc. vb to coat with varnish (varnish the floorboards). |
| vary (verb) | to make or become different, to change (his rate of work never varies). |
| vase (noun) | a vessel used for holding flowers or as an ornament. |
| Vaseline™ (noun) | a jelly made from petroleum, used on the skin as an ointment. |
| vassal (noun) | in the feudal system, a person who held land from a lord on condition that he performed certain services for the lord. |
| vast (adjective) | 1 of great extent (vast plans). 2 huge (a vast improvement). adv vastly n vastness |
| vat (noun) | a large tub or tank. |
| Vatican (noun) | the Pope’s palace in Rome. |
| vaudeville (noun) | an entertainment including songs and dances, usually comic; a light variety entertainment. |
| vault1 (noun) | 1 an arched roof. 2 a room, usually underground, with an arched roof (e.g. a cellar, a tomb, etc). |
| vault2 (verb) | to jump over while resting the hand on something for support (vault over the fences). n a leap (over something). |
| v-chip (noun) | a device that can be attached to a television to block unsuitable shows from being viewed. |
| VCR (noun) | video cassette recorder. |
| VDU (noun) | visual display unit. |
| veal (noun) | the flesh of a calf. |
| veejay (noun) | a person on a television music show who presents music videos. |
| veer (verb) | to change direction (the wind has veered to the north). |
| vegan (noun) | a person who eats no food made from animal products. |
| vegetable (noun) | a plant grown for food (soup made with fresh vegetables). |
| vegetarian (noun) | a person who eats no meat. n vegetarianism |
| vegetate (verb) | 1 to live a plant’s life. 2 to lead a dull, inactive life (she is vegetating staying in her house all day). |
| vegetation (noun) | 1 plants in general. 2 the plants of a particular region (jungle vegetation). |
| vehement (adjective) | 1 full of strong feeling, passionate (a vehement protest). 2 having a forceful way of speaking. n vehemence adv vehemently |
| vehicle (noun) | 1 any type of carriage, cart, etc, used on land for carrying people or things (lots of vehicles on display in the transport museum). 2 (formal) a means of doing something (the newspaper is a vehicle of communication). adj vehicular |
| Vehophobia | fear of driving (see list of phobias) |
| veil (noun) | 1 a cloth worn over the face to hide or protect it (a bridal veil). 2 something that hides or conceals (a veil of mist). vb 1 to conceal (try to conceal her dislike of him). 2 to cover (mist veiling the hill). |
| vein (noun) | 1 one of the blood vessels through which blood flows back to the heart. 2 a sap tube or small rib of a leaf. 3 a layer of mineral in a rock. 4 a mood (in a light-hearted vein). |
| Velcro™ (noun) | a type of fastening for clothing, etc, consisting of two strips of fabric which stick to each other when pressed together. |
| veld, veldt (noun) | in South Africa, a wide expanse of grassy country with few trees. |
| velocity (noun) | speed. |
| velour or velours (noun) | a material like velvet. |
| velvet (noun) | a thick silk or synthetic fabric, with a soft pile on one side. |
| velvety (adjective) | soft and smooth, like velvet (the velvety skin of a peach). |
| venal (adjective) | ready to take bribes, corrupt. n venality |
| vendetta (noun) | a feud between two families in which each is bound to revenge the death of any of its members killed by the other. |
| vending machine (noun) | a machine from which certain items can be bought by putting coins in it (he got a cold drink from a vending machine). |
| vendor (noun) | a person who sells (a street vendor selling newspapers). |
| veneer | Collective noun for newscasters (A veneer of newscasters) (see list of collective nouns) |
| veneer (noun) | 1 a thin layer (of fine wood, plastic, etc) glued on the surface of another inferior one. 2 something that appears fine but is not deep or lasting (a veneer of sincerity). vb to cover with veneer. |
| Venereology | study of venereal disease (see list of branches of science) |
| Venetian (adjective) | from or of Venice. |
| venetian blind (noun) | a window blind made from horizontal strips of thin wood, plastic, etc. |
| vengeance (noun) | harm done in return for harm or injury received; revenge (seek vengeance for his brother’s death). |
| vengeful (adjective) | desiring revenge. |
| venison (noun) | the flesh of deer. |
| venom (noun) | 1 (formal) poison (the venom of the cobra). 2 spite (a look full of venom). |
| venomous (adjective) | 1 poisonous (venomous reptile). 2 spiteful (venomous remarks). |
| vent (noun) | 1 a hole or opening through which air, smoke, etc, can pass. 2 an outlet. 3 expression (give vent to his rage). vb to give free expression to (vented his rage on the children). |
| ventilate (verb) | 1 to allow fresh air to pass into or through (ventilate the room by opening the windows). 2 to discuss freely (ventilate topics of interest to all). n ventilation |
| ventilator (noun) | any device to let in fresh air. |
| ventriloquist (noun) | a person who is able to speak without moving the or her lips, in such a way that the voice seems to come from another person. n ventriloquism |
| venture (noun) | an undertaking that may lead you into loss or danger (a business venture). vb 1 to dare (venture to go into the jungle alone). 2 to risk (venture his savings on the scheme). |
| venturesome (adjective) | (formal) ready to take risks, daring. |
| venue (noun) | the place appointed for a public event (the venue of the concert). |
| Venus (noun) | 1 the Roman goddess of love. 2 the second planet away from the sun. |
| Venustraphobia | fear of beautiful women (see list of phobias) |
| veranda, verandah (noun) | a covered platform or open balcony along the wall of a house. |
| verb (noun) | a word that tells of the action or state of the subject of a sentence. |
| verbal (adjective) | 1 of or in words. 2 by word of mouth. 3 word for word. adv verbally |
| verbatim (adverb) | word for word (she wrote down the statement verbatim). |
| Verbophobia | fear of words (see list of phobias) |
| verbose (adjective) | (formal) using too many words, using more words than are necessary (a verbose style). n verbosity |
| verdict (noun) | 1 the decision of a jury. 2 a considered opinion or judgment (their verdict on the food at the new restaurant). |
| verdigris (noun) | the green rust on metals of various kinds (. |
| verge (noun) | 1 the edging of a road etc (the grass verges of the highway). 2 edge, brink (on the verge of losing his temper). Also vb. |
| verger (noun) | a church attendant or usher. |
| verify (verb) | 1 confirm (verify the statement). 2 to prove to be true. n verification |
| veritable (adjective) | (fml or hum) true, real, actual (a veritable feast). |
| verity (noun) | (formal) truth. |
| vermicelli (noun) | long thin threads of pasta |
| vermilion (noun), | also vermillion a bright red color. |
| vermin (noun, plural) | 1 small animals that do harm (e.g. to crops), as rats, mice, etc. 2 insects connected with discomfort to human beings or dirt. |
| Verminophobia | fear of germs (see list of phobias) |
| vernacular (noun) | the language spoken from infancy by the people of a certain country or district. |
| verruca (noun) | a plantar wart on the sole of the foot. |
| versatile (adjective) | able to do many different kinds of things (a versatile tool). n versatility |
| verse (noun) | 1 poetry. 2 writing set down in the form of poetry. 3 a stanza. 4 a short division of a chapter of the Bible. |
| versed (adjective) | skilled, having knowledge (a student versed in Latin). |
| version (noun) | 1 an account or description peculiar to a particular person (his version of the events before the accident). 2 a translation. |
| versus (preposition) | against. |
| vertebra (noun) | (pl vertebrae ) one of the bones of the spine. |
| vertebrate (adjective) | having a backbone. |
| vertex (noun) | (pl vertices ) the highest point, the top (the vertex of the pyramid). |
| vertical (adjective) | upright, at right angles to the bottom or ground level, running straight from top to bottom. |
| vertigo (noun) | dizziness, giddiness (suffer from vertigo at the top of the ladder). |
| verve (noun) | enthusiasm, liveliness (set about the task with verve). |
| very (adverb) | extremely. adj true, real (the very person we were looking for). |
| vespers (noun, plural) | evening service in church. |
| vessel (noun) | 1 a container for holding things. 2 a ship or boat. |
| vest (noun) | 1 a sleeveless garment worn by men below a suit coat. 2 (British spelling) undershirt. |
| vested interests (noun, plural) | rights that have been long held and will not readily be given up. |
| vestibule (noun) | a porch or small compartment between the outer and inner front doors of a house; a small entrance hall. |
| vestige (noun) | 1 a mark or trace (vestiges of old customs). 2 a very small amount (not a vestige of the truth). |
| Vestiphobia | fear of clothing (see list of phobias) |
| vestment (noun) | a garment or robe, especially that worn by a priest or official. |
| vestry (noun) | a room in a church where the robes of priests, etc, are kept. |
| vet1 | short for veteran or veterinarian. |
| vet2 (verb) | (vetted , vetting ) to approve, to pass as sound (has to have his application vetted by the committee). |
| veteran (noun) | 1 an old person having long experience. 2 a soldier who has served in a war (a Vietnam veteran). Also adj. |
| veterinarian (noun) | someone who is qualified to give medical treatment to sick and injured animals. abbreviation vet. |
| veterinary (adjective) | having to do with the diseases of domestic animals. |
| veto (noun) | (pl vetoes ) the right to refuse or forbid. vb to forbid, to refuse to allow discussion of (vetoing the suggestion). |
| vex (verb) | to make angry, to annoy (their mother was vexed by the children’s behavior). n vexation |
| vexatious (adjective) | annoying, troublesome. |
| Vexillology | study of flags (see list of branches of science) |
| via (preposition) | by way of. |
| viable (adjective) | 1 able to exist or survive (a viable fetus). 2 workable (a viable proposition). n viability |
| viaduct (noun) | a long arched bridge carrying a road or railroad over a valley, etc. |
| vibrant (adjective) | 1 quivering (singing in a vibrant voice). 2 full of energy (a vibrant personality). 3 bright, shining (vibrant colors). n vibrancy adv vibrantly |
| vibrate (verb) | 1 to move quickly backward and forward. 2 to shake, to quiver. n vibration |
| vicar (noun) | the priest or minister in charge of a parish. |
| vicarage (noun) | the house of a vicar. |
| vicarious (adjective) | 1 suffered or undergone in place of another. 2 enjoyed or experienced through the medium of other people (vicarious pleasures). |
| vice- | prefix in the place of, next in order to (vice-admiral, vice-president, etc). |
| vice versa (adverb) | the other way around (dogs dislike cats and vice versa). |
| vice1 (noun) | a fault, a bad habit (smoking was his only vice). |
| vice2 | see vise. |
| vice3 (preposition) | in place of. |
| viceroy (noun) | a person who rules on behalf of a king or queen. |
| vicinity (noun) | neighborhood (look for a restaurant in the vicinity of the hotel). |
| vicious (adjective) | wicked, evil, ill-tempered (a vicious temper vi-shus-lee vi-shus-ness/. |
| vicious circle (noun) | a series in which each bad event or action or argument leads on to a worse one. |
| victim (noun) | 1 a person who suffers either from his or her own faults or from outside circumstances (the police have not named the victims killed in the explosion). 2 a person or animal killed and offered in sacrifice. |
| victimize (verb), | also victimise (British spelling) to make to suffer, to treat unfairly (people victimized for their beliefs). n victimization , also victimisation (British spelling) |
| Victimology | study of victims (see list of branches of science) |
| victor (noun) | a person who wins or conquers. |
| victorious (adjective) | successful in a war, battle, contest, or match (the victorious team). |
| victory (noun) | the winning of a battle, contest, or game (victory in the tennis tournament). |
| victuals (noun, plural) | food. |
| video (noun) | the transmission or recording of television shows or movies using a television set and a video cassette recorder and videotape. Also vb. |
| video game (noun) | an electronic game with images that you can manipulate on a video screen. |
| vie (verb) | to try hard to do better than, to compete with (the two boys spent the evening vying for her attention). |
| view (noun) | 1 all that can be seen at one look or from one point, a scene (the view from the hill). 2 opinion (in his view she is not suitable for the job). 3 intention (buy the house with the intention of building an extension). vb 1 to look at (view the property). 2 to examine, to consider (view all possible solutions). |
| viewer (noun) | a person who watches something, e.g. television. |
| viewpoint (noun) | 1 a place from which you can see the surroundings well. 2 the way in which you consider or think of something (try to see the problem from the viewpoint of the teacher). |
| vigil (noun) | an act of staying awake all night or of remaining watchful (keep a vigil at his injured son’s bedside). |
| vigilance | Collective noun for environmentalists (A vigilance of environmentalists) (see list of collective nouns) |
| vigilance (noun) | watchfulness, care. |
| vigilant (adjective) | watchful, careful (the police asked the public to remain vigilant). adv vigilantly |
| vigilante (noun) | a member of an unauthorized group who try to prevent, or who punish, crime in their neighborhood. |
| vigor (noun), | also vigour (British spelling) strength and energy, power of mind. |
| vigorous (adjective) | full of strength or energy, active (vigorous young athletes vi-grus-lee/. |
| Viking (noun) | a Norse pirate or sea rover of the 8th to 10th centuries. |
| vile (adjective) | 1 wicked, evil (a vile crime/a vile old man). 2 disgusting, horrible (a vile meal at the new restaurant). |
| vilify (verb) | to speak ill of (he was vilified by the press for his part in the affair). n vilification |
| villa (noun) | 1 a country house. 2 in a town, a house with a garden and a space between it and the houses on either side. |
| village | Collective noun for gays (A village of gays) (see list of collective nouns) |
| village (noun) | a group of houses, stores, etc, smaller than a town. |
| villager (noun) | a person who lives in a village. |
| villain (noun) | a bad or wicked person, a scoundrel (police are looking for the dangerous villain). |
| villainous (adjective) | wicked. |
| villainy (noun) | wickedness. |
| vim (noun) | energy, strength, force (a gymnastic performance that was full of vim). |
| vindicate (verb) | 1 to show that charges made are untrue, to free from blame (the testimony of the witness completely vindicated him). 2 to prove that something is true or right, to justify (her success vindicates his faith in her). n vindication |
| vindictive (adjective) | eager to obtain revenge, spiteful (have a vindictive streak). |
| vine (noun) | a climbing plant that bears grapes. |
| vinegar (noun) | a sour liquid, dilute acetic acid, made from wine or malt and used in cooking or for seasoning. |
| vinegary (adjective) | sour. |
| vineyard (noun) | a field or area in which vines are cultivated. |
| Vinology | study of vines and winemaking (see list of branches of science) |
| vintage (noun) | 1 the number of grapes or amount of wine obtained from one vineyard in a year. 2 all the wine made from the grapes grown in a certain year. adj 1 of a good vintage. 2 classic, best of its kind. 3 of a time gone by. |
| vinyl (noun) | a kind of strong plastic that can bend easily, used to make wall and floor coverings, etc, and, especially formerly, records. |
| viola1 (noun) | a large type of violin. |
| viola2 (noun) | a family of plants, including the violet, pansy, etc. |
| violate (verb) | to break (violate the peace treaty). n violation n violator |
| violence (noun) | 1 great force (the violence of the wind). 2 harm, injury (he was so angry that he resorted to violence). |
| violent (adjective) | 1 strong (a violent quarrel). 2 using force (the man grew more violent). adv violently |
| violet (noun) | 1 a small bluish-purple flower. 2 a bluish-purple color. adj bluish-purple (violet eyes). |
| violin (noun) | a four-stringed musical instrument played with a bow. n violinist. |
| violoncello (noun) | a large violin giving deep notes. n violoncellist abbreviation cello ). |
| viper (noun) | 1 a poisonous snake. 2 (lit) a treacherous or spiteful person. |
| virago (noun) | (pl viragoes or viragos ) a bad-tempered, scolding woman. |
| virgin (adjective) | 1 pure. 2 untouched; still in its original condition (virgin territory). n virginity adj virginal |
| Virginitiphobia | fear of rape (see list of phobias) |
| virile (adjective) | manly, strong (virile athletes). n virility |
| Virology | study of viruses (see list of branches of science) |
| virtual (adjective) | being so in fact but not in name or title (her husband is so weak that she is virtual head of the company). adv virtually |
| virtual reality (noun) | the computer simulation of three-dimensional images surrounding the viewer, allowing him or her to interact with the images. |
| virtue | Collective noun for patients (A virtue of patients) (see list of collective nouns) |
| virtue (noun) | 1 goodness of life or character. 2 a good quality, power, strength (generosity is her greatest virtue). |
| virtuoso (noun) | (pl virtuosi or virtuosos ) an exceptionally highly skilled musician or other artist. n virtuosity |
| virtuous (adjective) | morally good, of good character, leading a good life. adv virtuously |
| virulent (adjective) | 1 powerful, dangerous (virulent passions). 2 full of hatred, spiteful (virulent criticisms). n virulence |
| virus (noun) | any of various types of germ that are smaller than bacteria and cause infectious diseases in the body. |
| visa (noun) | a permit stamped on a passport, giving the owner the right to enter or leave a particular country. |
| visage (noun) | (formal) the face. |
| vis-à-vis (preposition) | (formal) with regard to (the committee’s position vis-à-vis the proposed changes). |
| viscose (noun) | a kind of rayon made from viscous cellulose. |
| viscount (noun) | a nobleman of the rank below an earl. |
| viscous (adjective) | sticky (viscous substances). n viscosity |
| vise (noun), | also vice (British spelling) an instrument for holding something (a piece of wood, metal, etc) steady while it is being worked on. |
| visibility (noun) | 1 clearness to sight. 2 the state of weather, atmosphere, etc, as they affect your ability to see clearly (visibility was poor on the highway). |
| visible (adjective) | able to be seen. adv visibly |
| vision | Collective noun for optometrists (A vision of optometrists) (see list of collective nouns) |
| vision (noun) | 1 the ability to see, sight (have poor vision in one eye). 2 something imagined as in a dream (God came to him in a vision). 3 something seen that has no bodily existence (see a ghostly vision). 4 the power to foresee consequences (he had a vision of the result). |
| visionary (adjective) | 1 existing only in the imagination (visionary scheme). 2 full of fancies or hopes of perfection (a visionary writer). n a person who believes in ideals that cannot be achieved in his or her lifetime. |
| visit (verb) | 1 to go to see or stay with (visiting his parents). 2 to call upon (we visited with the bride’s family). n 1 a call upon. 2 a short stay. |
| visitation (noun) | 1 an official visit. 2 suffering believed to be sent by God as punishment. |
| visitor (noun) | a person who visits. |
| visor (noun) | 1 (old) a movable part of a helmet, protecting the face when closed. 2 the peak of a cap. |
| vista (noun) | a narrow view, as seen between rows of houses, trees, etc. |
| visual (adjective) | of the sense of sight. adv visually |
| vital (adjective) | 1 very important (a meeting vital to the peace treaty). 2 unable to be done without, necessary to life (vital organs). adv vitally |
| vitality (noun) | energy, vigor, liveliness. |
| vitals (noun, plural) | the organs of the body necessary to life. |
| vitamin (noun) | one of several substances found in food, necessary to the health of the body. |
| vitreous (adjective) | of or like glass. |
| Vitricophobia | fear of step-father (see list of phobias) |
| Vitrics | study of glassware (see list of branches of science) |
| vitriol (noun) | 1 sulfuric acid. 2 hostile language. |
| vitriolic (adjective) | using violent language, full of hatred (a vitriolic attack on the government policy). |
| vivacious (adjective) | lively, bright, and talkative (a vivacious personality). adv vivaciously |
| vivacity (noun) | liveliness (the girl’s vivacity). |
| vivid (adjective) | 1 bright, striking, 2 appearing true to life (a vivid dream vi-vid-lee/. |
| vivisection (noun) | the cutting up of a living animal to assist scientific experiment. |
| vixen (noun) | a female fox. |
| vizier (noun) | a high political official in some Muslim countries. |
| vocabulary (noun) | 1 all the words used by a certain person or in a certain work (a child with a large vocabulary). 2 a list of words with their meaning (a vocabulary at the back of the book). |
| vocal (adjective) | 1 having to do with the voice, spoken or sung (the vocal organs). 2 intended to be heard (vocal opposition to the plan). adv vocally. |
| vocal cords (noun, plural) | two membranes in the throat that produce vocal sounds. |
| vocalist (noun) | a singer. |
| vocation (noun) | 1 your employment, profession, or trade. 2 the particular work you feel you are specially fitted for (being a minister of the church is a vocation). |
| vocational (adjective) | concerned with your profession or trade. |
| vociferous (adjective) | 1 noisy. 2 expressing opinions loudly or openly (a vociferous protest from the crowd). |
| vodka (noun) | a kind of strong alcoholic liquor, made from grain or potatoes, originating in Russia. |
| vogue (noun) | a popular or passing fashion (the length of skirt currently in vogue). |
| voice (noun) | 1 the sound produced through the mouth when speaking or singing (the choir boy has a lovely voice). 2 a vote, an opinion (the voice of the people). 3 the right to speak or express an opinion (the workers had no voice). 4 (gram) a grouping of forms of the verb according to whether they are active or passive. vb 1 to say. 2 to express (voice their disapproval). |
| voicemail (noun) | an electronic system for storing telephone messages so that they can be listened to later. |
| void (adjective) | 1 (formal) empty (a statement void of meaning). 2 having no effect, having no force (regulations that are now void). n empty space. |
| volatile (adjective) | 1 easily changing into gas. 2 able to evaporate readily. 3 changing moods or ideas often (a volatile personality). n volatility |
| volcano (noun) | (pl volcanoes ) a mountain with an opening at its summit through which molten rock, metals, etc, are occasionally forced up in a red-hot stream from beneath the surface of the earth. adj volcanic |
| Volcanology | study of volcanoes (see list of branches of science) |
| vole (noun) | the water-rat. |
| volition (noun) | willpower (leave of his own volition). |
| volley (noun) | 1 the firing of several guns or throwing of many things at the same time. 2 the speaking of a number of words in quick succession (a volley of questions addressed to the speaker). 3 in tennis, the hitting of a ball before it touches the ground. vb 1 to send a volley. 2 to hit (a ball) before it touches the ground. |
| volleyball (noun) | a game in which two teams volley a ball back and forth over a net. |
| volt (noun) | the unit used in measuring electrical power or force. |
| voltage (noun) | electrical power measured in volts. |
| voluble (adjective) | speaking much (she is voluble on the subject of her son’s education). n volubility |
| volume (noun) | 1 a book. 2 one of a series in a set of books (volume three of the encyclopedia). 3 the amount of space taken up by anything (the volume of water in the tank). 4 a large mass or amount (the volume of trade). 5 level of sound (turn up the volume on the radio). |
| voluminous (adjective) | 1 taking up much space (a voluminous skirt). 2 very big, holding a lot (a voluminous suitcase). |
| voluntary (adjective) | done of your own free will, not forced (face voluntary early retirement). n an organ solo before or after a church service. |
| volunteer (noun) | a person who offers to do something without being asked or ordered (volunteers required to visit the elderly). vb 1 to offer your services. 2 to give (information) unasked (she volunteered that she had no experience of doing the job). |
| voluptuous (adjective) | 1 having a full, rounded figure (voluptuous women). 2 tempting to bodily pleasures (the voluptuous movements of the dancers). 3 giving pleasure to the senses (the voluptuous feel of velvet). |
| vomit (verb) | 1 to throw up from the stomach through the mouth; to be sick. 2 to put out in large clouds, e.g. of smoke (factory chimneys vomiting black smoke). |
| voodoo (noun) | a primitive and degraded form of worship, witchcraft. |
| voracious (adjective) | very greedy. adv voraciously n voracity |
| vortex (noun) | 1 a whirlpool. 2 a whirlwind. |
| vote (noun) | 1 an expression of opinion for or against a proposal (60 votes for the proposal and 10 against). 2 the support given by an individual to a person contesting an election. vb 1 to give a vote. 2 to decide by vote. n voter. |
| vouch (verb) | to speak (on behalf of) with confidence, to confirm, to guarantee (able to vouch for his friend’s statement). |
| voucher (noun) | 1 a paper handed over in exchange for goods instead of cash (the company provided staff with luncheon vouchers). 2 a receipt. |
| vouchsafe (verb) | (formal) to be good enough to give or grant (reluctant to vouchsafe a reply). |
| vow (noun) | a solemn promise, a promise made to God. vb to promise solemnly. |
| vowel (noun) | 1 a simple sound (a, e, i, o, u) made by the voice without obstruction to the air passage. 2 the letter representing it. |
| voyage (noun) | a long journey, especially by sea (a voyage to Australia). |
| vulcanize (verb), | also vulcanise (British spelling) to treat rubber with sulfur. |
| vulgar (adjective) | 1 coarse in manners or behavior; rude (a vulgar comment vul-gar-lee/. |
| vulgar fraction (noun) | a fraction other than a decimal fraction (e.g. 5/8). |
| vulgarity (noun) | rudeness, coarseness. |
| vulnerable (adjective) | 1 able to be wounded or hurt (the bully always picked on the most vulnerable people). 2 weakly defended against attack (the army was in a vulnerable position). n vulnerability |
| vulture (noun) | a large bird that feeds on the flesh of dead animals (he could see the vultures circling in the air above the dead zebra). |
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