VI -abbr

  1. Virgin Islands

via ['vī-ə, 'vē-ə] -prep

  1. by way of
  2. through the medium or agency of
  3. by means of

vi·a·ble ['vī-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of living
  2. having attained such form and development as to be normally capable of surviving outside the mother's womb
    • a viable fetus
  3. capable of growing or developing
    • viable seeds
    • viable eggs
  4. capable of working, functioning, or developing adequately
    • viable alternatives
  5. capable of existence and development as an independent unit
    • the colony is now a viable state
  6. having a reasonable chance of succeeding
    • a viable candidate
  7. financially sustainable
    • a viable enterprise

via·duct ['vī-ə-,dəkt] -n

  1. a long elevated roadway usu. consisting of a series of short spans supported on arches, piers, or columns

Vi·ag·ra [vī-'a-grə] -trademark

  1. used for a preparation of the citrate of sildenafil

vi·al ['vī(-ə)l] -n

  1. a small closed or closable vessel esp. for liquids

via me·dia [,vī-ə-'mē-dē-ə; ,vē-ə-'mā-dē-ə, -'me-] -n

  1. a middle way

vi·and ['vī-ənd] -n

  1. an item of food
  2. a choice or tasty dish
  3. provisions, food

vi·at·i·cal settlement [vī-'a-ti-kəl-] -n

  1. an agreement by which the owner of a life insurance policy that covers a person (as the owner) who has a catastrophic or life-threatening illness receives compensation for less than the expected death benefit of the policy in return for a turning over (as by sale or bequest) of the death benefit or ownership of the policy to the other party (as a company specializing in such transfers) called also viatical

vi·at·i·cum [vī-'a-ti-kəm, vē-] -n

  1. the Christian Eucharist given to a person in danger of death
  2. an allowance (as of transportation or supplies and money) for traveling expenses
  3. provisions for a journey

vibe ['vīb] -n

  1. vibration
    • seems to be in on every conversation, every deal, every vibe that is winging through the room -- Albert Goldman
    usu. used in pl.
    • got bad vibe s from him

vibes ['vībz] -n pl, n

  1. vibraphone

vi·bra·harp ['vī-brə-,härp] -n

  1. vibraphone

vi·brance ['vī-brən(t)s] -n

  1. vibrancy

vi·bran·cy ['vī-brən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being vibrant

vi·brant [-brənt] -adj, adv

  1. oscillating or pulsating rapidly
  2. pulsating with life, vigor, or activity
    • a vibrant personality
  3. readily set in vibration
  4. responsive, sensitive
  5. sounding as a result of vibration : resonant
    • a vibrant voice
  6. bright
    • a vibrant orange

vi·bra·phone ['vī-brə-,fōn] -n

  1. a percussion instrument resembling the xylophone but having metal bars and motor-driven resonators for sustaining the tone and producing a vibrato

vi·brate ['vī-,brāt, esp Brit vī-'] -vb

  1. to swing or move to and fro
  2. to emit with or as if with a vibratory motion
  3. to mark or measure by oscillation
    • a pendulum vibrating seconds
  4. to set in vibration
  5. to move to and fro or from side to side : oscillate
  6. fluctuate, vacillate
    • vibrate between two choices
  7. to have an effect as or as if of vibration
    • music, when soft voices die, vibrate s in the memory -- P. B. Shelley
  8. to be in a state of vibration : quiver
  9. to respond sympathetically : thrill
    • vibrate to the opportunity

vi·bra·tile ['vī-brə-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj

  1. characterized by vibration
  2. adapted to, used in, or capable of vibratory motion
    • vibratile cilia

vi·bra·tion [vī-'brā-shən] -n, adj

  1. a periodic motion of the particles of an elastic body or medium in alternately opposite directions from the position of equilibrium when that equilibrium has been disturbed (as when a stretched cord produces musical tones or molecules in the air transmit sounds to the ear)
  2. : the action of vibrating : the state of being vibrated or in vibratory motion: as
  3. oscillation
  4. a quivering or trembling motion : quiver
  5. an instance of vibration
  6. vacillation in opinion or action : wavering
  7. a characteristic emanation, aura, or spirit that infuses or vitalizes someone or something and that can be instinctively sensed or experienced often used in pl.
  8. a distinctive usu. emotional atmosphere capable of being sensed usu. used in pl.

vi·bra·to [vi-'brä-(,)tō, vī-] -n, adj

  1. a slightly tremulous effect imparted to vocal or instrumental tone for added warmth and expressiveness by slight and rapid variations in pitch

vi·bra·tor ['vī-,brā-tər] -n

  1. : one that vibrates or causes vibration: as
  2. a vibrating electrical apparatus used in massage or for sexual stimulation
  3. a vibrating device (as in an electric bell or buzzer)

vi·bra·to·ry ['vī-brə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. consisting of, capable of, or causing vibration or oscillation
  2. characterized by vibration

vib·rio ['vi-brē-,ō] -n, adj

  1. any of a genus ( Vibrio) of short rigid motile bacteria that are straight or curved rods and include pathogens esp. of gastrointestinal diseases (as cholera)

vib·ri·on ['vi-brē-,än] -n

  1. vibrio
  2. a motile bacterium

vib·ri·o·sis [,vi-brē-'ō-səs] -n

  1. an infectious disease of sheep and cattle caused by a bacterium ( Campylobacter fetussyn. Vibrio fetus) and marked by infertility and abortion
  2. infection with or disease caused by a vibrio

vi·bris·sa [vī-'bri-sə, və-] -n

  1. one of the stiff hairs that are located esp. about the nostrils or on other parts of the face in many mammals and that often serve as tactile organs
  2. one of the bristly feathers near the mouth of many and esp. insectivorous birds that may help to prevent the escape of insects

vi·bur·num [vī-'bər-nəm] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Viburnum) of widely distributed shrubs or small trees of the honeysuckle family with simple leaves and white or sometimes pink cymose flowers

vic -abbr

  1. vicinity

Vic -abbr

  1. Victoria

vic·ar ['vi-kər] -n

  1. one serving as a substitute or agent
  2. an administrative deputy
  3. : an ecclesiastical agent: as
  4. a Church of England incumbent receiving a stipend but not the tithes of a parish
  5. a member of the Episcopal clergy or laity who has charge of a mission or chapel
  6. a member of the clergy who exercises a broad pastoral responsibility as the representative of a prelate

vic·ar·age ['vi-k(ə-)rij] -n

  1. the benefice of a vicar
  2. the house of a vicar
  3. vicariate

vicar apostolic -n

  1. a Roman Catholic titular bishop who administers a territory not organized as a diocese

vic·ar·ate ['vi-kə-rət, -,rāt] -n

  1. vicariate

vicargeneral -n

  1. an administrative deputy of a Roman Catholic or Anglican bishop or of the head of a religious order

vi·car·i·al [vī-'ker-ē-əl, və-] -adj

  1. vicarious
  2. of or relating to a vicar

vi·car·i·ance [-ē-ən(t)s] -n

  1. fragmentation of the environment (as by splitting of a tectonic plate) in contrast to dispersal as a factor in promoting biological evolution by division of large populations into isolated subpopulations called also vicariance biogeography

vi·car·i·ant [-ē-ənt] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being the process of vicariance or organisms that evolved through this process
    • the possible vicariant origin of the Antillean arthropod fauna

vi·car·i·ate [-ē-ət] -n

  1. the office, jurisdiction, or tenure of a vicar
  2. the office or district of a governmental administrative deputy

vi·car·i·ous [vī-'ker-ē-əs, və-] -adj, adv, n

  1. serving instead of someone or something else
  2. that has been delegated
    • vicarious authority
  3. performed or suffered by one person as a substitute for another or to the benefit or advantage of another : substitutionary
    • a vicarious sacrifice
  4. experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another
  5. occurring in an unexpected or abnormal part of the body instead of the usual one
    • vicarious menstruation manifested by bleeding from the nose

Vicar of Christ

  1. pope

vice ['vīs] -n

  1. moral depravity or corruption : wickedness
  2. a moral fault or failing
  3. a habitual and usu. trivial defect or shortcoming : foible
    • suffered from the vice of curiosity
  4. blemish, defect
  5. a physical imperfection, deformity, or taint
  6. a character representing one of the vices in an English morality play
  7. buffoon, jester
  8. an abnormal behavior pattern in a domestic animal detrimental to its health or usefulness
  9. sexual immorality
  10. prostitution

vice ['vīs] -n, adj

(variant of vise)

  1. any of various tools with two jaws for holding work that close usu. by a screw, lever, or cam
  2. something likened to a vise
    • economic vise of slow growth and rampant price increases -- David Milne
  3. to hold, force, or squeeze with or as if with a vise

vice- ['vīs, ,vīs] -prefix

  1. one that takes the place of
    • vice- chancellor

vice admiral -n

  1. a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard who ranks above a rear admiral and whose insignia is three stars

vicechan·cel·lor ['vīs-'chan(t)-s(ə-)lər, ,vīs-] -n

  1. an officer ranking next below a chancellor and serving as deputy to the chancellor
  2. chief administrative officer in a British university
  3. a judge appointed to act for or to assist a chancellor

vicecon·sul [-'kän(t)-səl] -n

  1. a consular officer subordinate to a consul general or to a consul

vice·ge·ren·cy [-'jir-ən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the office or jurisdiction of a vicegerent

vice·ge·rent [-'jir-ənt] -n

  1. an administrative deputy of a king or magistrate

vi·cen·ni·al [vī-'se-nē-əl] -adj

  1. occurring once every 20 years

vice presidency -n

  1. the office of vice president

vice president -n, adj

  1. an officer next in rank to a president and usu. empowered to serve as president in that officer's absence or disability
  2. any of several officers serving as a president's deputies in charge of particular locations or functions

vice·re·gal ['vīs-'rē-gəl, ,vīs-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a viceroy or viceroyalty

vicere·gent [-'rē-jənt] -n

  1. a regent's deputy

vice·reine ['vīs-,rān] -n

  1. the wife of a viceroy
  2. a woman who is a viceroy

vice·roy ['vīs-,rȯi] -n

  1. the governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of a king or sovereign
  2. a showy No. American nymphalid butterfly ( Limenitis archippus) closely mimicking the monarch in coloration but smaller

vice·roy·al·ty ['vīs-,rȯi(-ə)l-tē, ,vīs-'] -n

  1. the office, authority, or term of service of a viceroy
  2. the territory or jurisdiction of a viceroy

vice·roy·ship ['vīs-,rȯi-,ship] -n

  1. viceroyalty

vice squad -n

  1. a police squad charged with enforcement of laws concerning gambling, pornography, prostitution, and the illegal use of liquor and narcotics

vice ver·sa [,vī-si-'vər-sə, 'vīs-'vər-] -adv

  1. with the order changed : with the relations reversed : conversely

vi·chys·soise [,vi-shē-'swäz, ,vē-] -n

  1. a soup typically made of pureed leeks or onions and potatoes, cream, and chicken stock and usu. served cold

Vi·chy water ['vi-shē-] -n

  1. a natural sparkling mineral water from Vichy, France
  2. an imitation of or substitute for this

vic·i·nage ['vi-sə-nij, 'vis-nij] -n

  1. a neighboring or surrounding district : vicinity

vic·i·nal ['vi-sə-nəl, 'vis-nəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a limited district : local
  2. of, relating to, or substituted in adjacent sites in a molecule
    • a vicinal disulfide group

vi·cin·i·ty [və-'si-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being near : proximity
  2. a surrounding area or district : neighborhood
  3. neighborhood

vi·cious ['vi-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. having the nature or quality of vice or immorality : depraved
  2. defective, faulty
  3. invalid
  4. impure, noxious
  5. dangerously aggressive : savage
    • a vicious dog
  6. marked by violence or ferocity : fierce
    • a vicious fight
  7. malicious, spiteful
    • vicious gossip
  8. worsened by internal causes that reciprocally augment each other
    • a vicious wage-price spiral

vicious circle -n

  1. an argument or definition that begs the question
  2. a chain of events in which the response to one difficulty creates a new problem that aggravates the original difficulty called also vicious cycle

vi·cis·si·tude [və-'si-sə-,tüd, vī-, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or state of being changeable : mutability
  2. natural change or mutation visible in nature or in human affairs
  3. a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance : a fluctuation of state or condition
    • the vicissitude s of daily life
  4. a difficulty or hardship attendant on a way of life, a career, or a course of action and usu. beyond one's control
  5. alternating change : succession

vi·cis·si·tu·di·nous [və-,si-sə-'tüd-nəs, (,)vī-, -'tyüd-; -'tü-də-nəs, -'tyü-] -adj

  1. marked by or filled with vicissitudes

vic·tim ['vik-təm] -n

  1. a living being sacrificed to a deity or in the performance of a religious rite
  2. : one that is acted on and usu. adversely affected by a force or agent
    • the schools are victim s of the social system
    : as
  3. one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions
    • a victim of cancer
    • a victim of the auto crash
    • a murder victim
  4. one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment
    • a frequent victim of political attacks
  5. one that is tricked or duped
    • a con man's victim

vic·tim·ise ['vik-tə-,mīz] -vt, n

(variant of victimize)

  1. to make a victim of
  2. to subject to deception or fraud : cheat

vic·tim·ize ['vik-tə-,mīz] -vt, n

  1. to make a victim of
  2. to subject to deception or fraud : cheat

vic·tim·less ['vik-təm-ləs] -adj

  1. having no victim : not of a nature that may produce a complainant
    • a victimless crime

vic·tim·ol·o·gy [,vik-tə-'mä-lə-jē] -n

  1. the study of the ways in which the behavior of crime victims may have led to or contributed to their victimization
  2. the claim that the problems of a person or group are the result of victimization

vic·tor ['vik-tər] -n, adj

  1. one that defeats an enemy or opponent : winner

Victor

  1. a communications code word for the letter v

vic·to·ria [vik-'tȯr-ē-ə] -n

  1. a low four-wheeled pleasure carriage for two with a folding top and a raised seat in front for the driver

Victoria Cross -n

  1. a bronze Maltese cross awarded to members of the British armed services for acts of remarkable valor

Victoria Day -n

  1. formerly May 24 and now the Monday preceding May 25 observed in Canada as a legal holiday
  2. commonwealth day

Vic·to·ri·an [vik-'tȯr-ē-ən] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the reign of Queen Victoria of England or the art, letters, or tastes of her time
  2. typical of the moral standards, attitudes, or conduct of the age of Victoria esp. when considered stuffy, prudish, or hypocritical

Victorian -n

  1. a person living during Queen Victoria's reign
  2. a representative figure of that time
  3. a typically large and ornate house built during Queen Victoria's reign

Vic·to·ri·ana [(,)vik-,tȯr-ē-'a-nə, -'ä-, -'ā-] -n

  1. materials concerning or characteristic of the Victorian age
  2. a collection of such materials

Vic·to·ri·an·ism [vik-'tȯr-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. a typical instance or product of Victorian expression, taste, or conduct
  2. the quality or state of being Victorian esp. in taste or conduct

vic·to·ri·ous [vik-'tōr-ē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. having won a victory
    • a victorious army
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of victory
    • victorious exuberance
  3. evincing moral harmony or a sense of fulfillment : fulfilled

vic·to·ry ['vik-t(ə-)rē] -n

  1. the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist
  2. achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties

Vic·tro·la [vik-'trō-lə] -trademark

  1. used for a phonograph

vict·ual ['vi-tᵊl] -n

  1. food usable by people
  2. supplies of food : provisions

victual -vb

  1. to supply with food
  2. eat
  3. to lay in provisions

vict·ual·ler ['vi-tᵊl-ər] -n

  1. one that provisions an army, a navy, or a ship with food
  2. the keeper of a restaurant or tavern
  3. an army or navy provision ship

vi·cu·a [vi-'kün-yə, vī-; vī-'kü-nə, və-, -'kyü-] -n

  1. a wild ruminant ( Vicugna vicugnasyn. Lama vicugna) of the Andes from Peru to Argentina that is related to the llama and alpaca
  2. the wool from the vicua's fine lustrous undercoat
  3. a fabric made of vicua wool
  4. a sheep's wool imitation of this

vid ['vid] -n

  1. video

Vi·da·lia [və-'dāl-yə] -certification mark

  1. used for certain mild sweet yellow onions grown in Georgia

vi·de ['vī-dē, 'vē-,dā] -vb imper

  1. see used to direct a reader to another item

vi·de·li·cet [və-'de-lə-,set, vī-; vi-'dā-li-,ket] -adv

  1. that is to say : namely

vid·eo ['vi-dē-,ō] -n

  1. television
  2. the visual portion of television
  3. : videotape: as
  4. a recording of a motion picture or television program for playing through a television set
  5. a videotaped performance of a song often featuring an interpretation of the lyrics through visual images
  6. a recording similar to a videotape but stored in digital form (as on an optical disk or a computer's hard drive)

video -adj

  1. being, relating to, or used in the transmission or reception of the television image
    • a video channel
  2. being, relating to, or involving images on a television screen or computer display
    • a video terminal

video camera -n

  1. a camera that records video and usu. audio
  2. camcorder

video card -n

  1. a circuit board in a computer system designed to generate output for the system's video display screen

vid·eo·cas·sette [,vi-dē-ō-kə-'set, -ka-] -n

  1. a case containing videotape for use with a VCR
  2. a recording on a videocassette

videocassette recorder -n

  1. vcr

vid·eo·con·fer·enc·ing [-'kän-f(ə-)rən(t)-siŋ, -fərn(t)-] -n

  1. the holding of a conference among people at remote locations by means of transmitted audio and video signals

vid·eo·disc ['vi-dē-ō-,disk] -n

  1. a disc similar in appearance and use to a phonograph record on which programs have been recorded for playback on a television set
  2. optical disk
  3. a recording (as of a movie) on a videodisc

video game -n

  1. an electronic game played by means of images on a video screen and often emphasizing fast action

vid·e·o·gen·ic [,vi-dē-ō-'je-nik] -adj

  1. telegenic

vid·e·og·ra·phy [,vi-dē-'ä-grə-fē] -n

  1. the practice or art of recording images with a video camera

vid·eo·land [-,land] -n

  1. television as a medium or industry

vid·eo·phile ['vi-dē-ə-,fī(-ə)l] -n

  1. a person fond of video
  2. one interested in video equipment or in producing videos

vid·eo·phone ['vi-dē-ə-,fōn] -n

  1. a telephone that can transmit video as well as audio signals so that users can see each other

vid·eo·tape ['vi-dē-ō-,tāp] -n

  1. a recording of visual images and sound (as of a television production) made on magnetic tape
  2. the magnetic tape used for such a recording

videotape -vt

  1. to make a videotape of
    • videotape a show

videotape recorder -n

  1. a device for recording and playing back videotapes called also video recorder

vid·eo·tex [-,teks] -n

  1. an electronic data retrieval system in which usu. textual information is transmitted via telephone or cable-television lines and displayed on a television set or video display terminal
  2. such a system that is interactive

video ve·ri·te [-,ver-ə-'tā] -n

  1. the filming or videotaping of a television program (as a documentary) so as to convey candid realism

vidette [vi-'det] -n

(variant of vedette)

  1. a mounted sentinel stationed in advance of pickets

vid·icon ['vi-di-,kän] -n

  1. a camera tube using the principle of photoconductivity

vie ['vī] -vb, n

  1. wager, hazard
  2. to exchange in rivalry : match
  3. to strive for superiority : contend, compete

Vi·en·na sausage [vē-'e-nə-] -n

  1. a short slender frankfurter

Viet·cong [vē-'et-'käŋ, vyet-, ,vē-ət-, vēt-, -'kȯŋ] -n

  1. a guerrilla member of the Vietnamese Communist movement

Viet·minh [-'min] -n

  1. an adherent of the Vietnamese Communist movement from 1941 to 1951

Viet·nam·ese [vē-,et-nə-'mēz, ,vyet-, ,vē-ət-, ,vēt-, -na-, -nä-, -'mēs] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Vietnam
  2. the language of the largest group in Vietnam and the official language of the country

Vietnamese potbellied pig -n

  1. potbellied pig

view ['vyü] -n

  1. extent or range of vision : sight
    • tried to keep the ship in view
    • sat high in the bleachers to get a good view
  2. the act of seeing or examining : inspection
  3. survey
    • a view of English literature
  4. a mode or manner of looking at or regarding something
  5. an opinion or judgment colored by the feeling or bias of its holder
    • in my view the plan will fail
  6. scene, prospect
    • the lovely view from the balcony
  7. the foreseeable future
    • no hope in view
  8. a pictorial representation
  9. to look at attentively : scrutinize, observe
    • view an exhibit
  10. see, watch
  11. to look on in a particular light : regard
    • doesn't view himself as a rebel
  12. to survey or examine mentally : consider
    • view all sides of a question

view·book ['vyü-,bu̇k] -n

  1. a promotional booklet with pictures that is published by a college or university and used esp. for recruiting students
  2. an online version of such a booklet

view·data ['vyü-,dā-tə also -,da-] -n

  1. a videotex system usu. employing telephone lines

view·er ['vyü-ər] -n

  1. : one that views: as
  2. a person legally appointed to inspect and report on property
  3. an optical device used in viewing
  4. a person who watches television

view·er·ship [-,ship] -n

  1. a television audience esp. with respect to size or makeup

view·find·er ['vyü-,fīn-dər] -n

  1. a device on a camera for showing the area of the subject to be included in the picture

view hal·loo [,vyü-hə-'lü] -interj

  1. used in fox hunting on seeing a fox break cover

view·ing ['vyü-iŋ] -n

  1. an act of seeing, watching, or taking a look
  2. an instance or the practice of watching television

view·less ['vyü-ləs] -adj, adv

  1. not perceivable : invisible
  2. affording no view
  3. expressing no views

view·point [-,pȯint] -n

  1. point of view, standpoint

view·shed ['vyü-,shed] -n

  1. the natural environment that is visible from one or more viewing points

viewy ['vyü-ē] -adj

  1. possessing visionary, impractical, or fantastic views
  2. spectacular or arresting in appearance : showy

vig ['vig] -n

  1. vigorish

vi·ga ['vē-gə] -n

  1. one of the heavy rafters and esp. a log supporting the roof in American Indian and Spanish architecture of the Southwest

vi·ges·i·mal [vī-'je-sə-məl] -adj

  1. based on the number 20

vig·il ['vi-jəl] -n

  1. a watch formerly kept on the night before a religious feast with prayer or other devotions
  2. the day before a religious feast observed as a day of spiritual preparation
  3. evening or nocturnal devotions or prayers usu. used in pl.
  4. the act of keeping awake at times when sleep is customary
  5. a period of wakefulness
  6. an act or period of watching or surveillance : watch
    • kept vigil at her bedside

vig·i·lance ['vi-jə-lən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being vigilant

vigilance committee -n

  1. a committee of vigilantes

vig·i·lant ['vi-jə-lənt] -adj, adv

  1. alertly watchful esp. to avoid danger

vig·i·lan·te [,vi-jə-'lan-tē] -n

  1. a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily (as when the processes of law are viewed as inadequate)
  2. a self-appointed doer of justice

vigil light -n

  1. a candle lighted devotionally (as in a Roman Catholic church) before a shrine or image called also vigil candle

vi·gne·ron [,vēn-yə-'rōn] -n

  1. winegrower

vi·gnette [vin-'yet, vēn-] -n

  1. a running ornament (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) put on or just before a title page or at the beginning or end of a chapter
  2. a small decorative design or picture so placed
  3. a picture (as an engraving or photograph) that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper
  4. the pictorial part of a postage stamp design as distinguished from the frame and lettering
  5. a short descriptive literary sketch
  6. a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)

vignette -vt, n

  1. to finish (as a photograph) like a vignette
  2. to describe briefly

vig·or ['vi-gər] -n

  1. active bodily or mental strength or force
  2. active healthy well-balanced growth esp. of plants
  3. intensity of action or effect : force
  4. effective legal status

vig·o·rish ['vi-gə-rish] -n

  1. a charge taken (as by a bookie or a gambling house) on bets
  2. the degree of such a charge
    • a vigorish of five percent
  3. interest paid to a moneylender

vi·go·ro·so [,vi-gə-'rō-(,)sō, ,vē-, -(,)zō] -adj or adv

  1. energetic in style used as a direction in music

vig·or·ous ['vi-g(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. possessing vigor : full of physical or mental strength or active force : strong
    • a vigorous youth
    • a vigorous plant
  2. done with vigor : carried out forcefully and energetically
    • vigorous exercises

vig·our ['vi-gər] -n

(variant of vigor)

  1. active bodily or mental strength or force
  2. active healthy well-balanced growth esp. of plants
  3. intensity of action or effect : force
  4. effective legal status

Vi·king ['vī-kiŋ] -n

  1. one of the pirate Norsemen plundering the coasts of Europe in the 8th to 10th centuries
  2. sea rover
  3. scandinavian

vile ['vī(-ə)l] -adj, adv, n

  1. morally despicable or abhorrent
    • nothing is so vile as intellectual dishonesty
  2. physically repulsive : foul
    • a vile slum
  3. of little worth or account : common
  4. mean
  5. tending to degrade
    • vile employments
  6. disgustingly or utterly bad : obnoxious, contemptible
    • vile weather
    • had a vile temper

vil·i·fi·ca·tion [,vi-lə-fə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the act of vilifying : abuse
  2. an instance of vilifying : a defamatory utterance

vil·i·fy ['vi-lə-,fī] -vt, n

  1. to lower in estimation or importance
  2. to utter slanderous and abusive statements against : defame

vil·i·pend ['vi-lə-,pend] -vt

  1. to hold or treat as of little worth or account : contemn
  2. to express a low opinion of : disparage

vill ['vil] -n

  1. a division of a hundred : township
  2. village

vil·la ['vi-lə] -n

  1. a country estate
  2. the rural or suburban residence of a wealthy person
  3. a detached or semidetached urban residence with yard and garden space

vil·la·dom ['vi-lə-dəm] -n

  1. the world constituted by villas and their occupants

vil·lage ['vi-lij] -n

  1. a settlement usu. larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town
  2. an incorporated minor municipality
  3. the residents of a village
  4. something (as an aggregation of burrows or nests) suggesting a village
  5. a territorial area having the status of a village esp. as a unit of local government

vil·lag·er ['vi-li-jər] -n

  1. an inhabitant of a village

vil·lage·ry ['vi-lij-rē, -li-jə-] -n

  1. villages

vil·lain ['vi-lən] -n

  1. villein
  2. an uncouth person : boor
  3. a deliberate scoundrel or criminal
  4. a character in a story or play who opposes the hero
  5. one blamed for a particular evil or difficulty
    • automation as the villain in job...displacement -- M. H. Goldberg

vil·lain·ess [-lə-nəs] -n

  1. a woman who is a villain

vil·lain·ous [-lə-nəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. befitting a villain (as in evil or depraved character)
    • a villainous attack
  2. being or having the character of a villain : depraved
    • the villainous foe
  3. highly objectionable : wretched

vil·lainy [-lə-nē] -n

  1. villainous conduct
  2. a villainous act
  3. the quality or state of being villainous : depravity

vil·la·nel·la [,vi-lə-'ne-lə] -n

  1. a 16th century Italian part-song in an intentionally unsophisticated style
  2. an instrumental piece in the style of a rustic dance

vil·la·nelle [,vi-lə-'nel] -n

  1. a chiefly French verse form running on two rhymes and consisting typically of five tercets and a quatrain in which the first and third lines of the opening tercet recur alternately at the end of the other tercets and together as the last two lines of the quatrain

vil·lat·ic [vi-'la-tik] -adj

  1. rural

vil·lein ['vi-lən, 'vi-,lān, vi-'lān] -n

  1. a free common villager or village peasant of any of the feudal classes lower in rank than the thane
  2. a free peasant of a feudal class higher in rank than a cotter
  3. an unfree peasant standing as the slave of a feudal lord but free in legal relations with respect to all others

vil·len·age ['vi-lə-nij] -n

  1. tenure at the will of a feudal lord by villein services
  2. the status of a villein

vil·li·form ['vi-lə-,fȯrm] -adj

  1. having the form or appearance of villi

vil·lous ['vi-ləs] -adj

  1. covered or furnished with villi
    • a villous adenoma
  2. having soft long hairs
    • leaves villous underneath

vil·lus ['vi-ləs] -n

  1. : a small slender often vascular process: as
  2. one of the minute finger-shaped processes of the mucous membrane of the small intestine that serve in the absorption of nutriment
  3. one of the branching processes of the surface of the chorion of the developing embryo of most mammals that help to form the placenta

vim ['vim] -n

  1. robust energy and enthusiasm

VIN -abbr

  1. vehicle identification number

vi·na ['vē-nə] -n

  1. a stringed instrument of India having usu. four strings on a long bamboo fingerboard with movable frets and a gourd resonator at each end

vi·na·ceous [vī-'nā-shəs, vi-] -adj

  1. of the color of red wine

vin·ai·grette [,vi-ni-'gret] -n

  1. a small ornamental box or bottle with perforated top used for holding an aromatic preparation (as smelling salts)
  2. a sauce made typically of oil, vinegar, and seasonings and used esp. on salads, cold meats, or fish called also vinaigrette dressing

vi·nal ['vī-,nal] -n

  1. a synthetic textile fiber that is a long-chain polymer consisting largely of vinyl alcohol units

vin·blas·tine [(,)vin-'blas-,tēn] -n

  1. an alkaloid C 46H 58N 4O 9from the rosy periwinkle used esp. in the form of its sulfate to treat human neoplastic diseases (as Hodgkin's disease)

vin·ca ['viŋ-kə] -n

  1. periwinkle

Vin·cen·tian [vin-'sen(t)-shən] -n, adj

  1. a member of the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Mission founded by St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, France, in 1625 and devoted to missions and seminaries
  2. a native or inhabitant of the island of St. Vincent

Vin·cent's angina ['vin(t)-sən(t)s-, (,)vaⁿ-'säⁿz-] -n

  1. Vincent's infection in which the ulceration has spread to surrounding tissues (as of the pharynx and tonsils) called also trench mouth

Vincent's infection -n

  1. a progressive painful disease of the mouth that is marked esp. by dirty gray ulceration of the mucous membranes, bleeding of the gums, and a foul odor to the breath and that is associated with the presence of large numbers of a rod-shaped bacterium ( Fusobacterium fusiformesyn. F. nucleatum) and a spirochete ( Treponema vincentiisyn. Borrelia vincentii) in the lesions called also trench mouth

vin·ci·ble ['vin(t)-sə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being overcome or subdued

vin·cris·tine [(,)vin-'kris-,tēn] -n

  1. an alkaloid C 46H 56N 4O 10from the rosy periwinkle used esp. in the form of its sulfate to treat some human neoplastic diseases (as acute leukemia)

vin·cu·lum ['viŋ-kyə-ləm] -n

  1. a unifying bond : link, tie
  2. a straight horizontal mark placed over two or more members of a compound mathematical expression and equivalent to parentheses or brackets about them (as in a-b-c=a- b-c)

vin·da·loo ['vin-də-,lü] -n

  1. a curried dish of Indian origin made with meat or shellfish, garlic, and wine or vinegar

vin·di·ca·ble ['vin-di-kə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being vindicated

vin·di·cate ['vin-də-,kāt] -vt, n

  1. to set free : deliver
  2. avenge
  3. to free from allegation or blame
  4. confirm, substantiate
  5. to provide justification or defense for : justify
  6. to protect from attack or encroachment : defend
  7. to maintain a right to

vin·di·ca·tion [,vin-də-'kā-shən] -n

  1. an act of vindicating : the state of being vindicated
  2. justification against denial or censure : defense

vin·dic·a·tive [vin-'di-kə-tiv] -adj

  1. vindictive, vengeful
  2. punitive

vin·di·ca·to·ry -adj

  1. providing vindication : justificatory
  2. punitive, retributive

vin·dic·tive [vin-'dik-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. disposed to seek revenge : vengeful
  2. intended for or involving revenge
  3. intended to cause anguish or hurt : spiteful

vine ['vīn] -n

  1. grape
  2. a plant whose stem requires support and which climbs by tendrils or twining or creeps along the ground
  3. the stem of such a plant
  4. any of various sprawling herbaceous plants (as a tomato or potato) that lack specialized adaptations for climbing
  5. to form or grow in the manner of a vine

vine·dress·er ['vīn-,dre-sər] -n

  1. a person who cultivates and prunes grapevines

vin·e·gar ['vi-ni-gər] -n

  1. a sour liquid obtained by fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids and used as a condiment or preservative
  2. ill humor : sourness
  3. vim

vin·e·gared [-gərd] -adj

  1. flavored or marinated with vinegar

vinegar eel -n

  1. a minute free-living nematode worm ( Turbatrix aceti) often found in great numbers in acidic vegetable or vegetable-derived fermenting matter (as unpasteurized vinegar)

vinegar fly -n

  1. drosophila

vin·e·gar·ish ['vi-ni-g(ə-)rish] -adj

  1. vinegary

vin·e·gary ['vi-ni-g(ə-)rē] -adj

  1. resembling vinegar : sour
  2. flavored with vinegar
  3. disagreeable, bitter, or irascible in character or manner
    • two vinegary fellows bickering

vine maple -n

  1. a small maple ( Acer circinatum) found from British Columbia to California that has spreading twisted branches that may form dense thickets

vin·ery ['vīn-rē, 'vī-nə-] -n

  1. an area or building in which vines are grown

vine·yard ['vin-yərd] -n

  1. a planting of grapevines
  2. a sphere of activity : field of endeavor
    • toilers in the vineyard of diplomacy -- Daniel Schorr

vine·yard·ist [-yər-dist] -n

  1. a person who owns or cultivates a vineyard

vingtetun [,van-,tā-'ən] -n

  1. blackjack

vi·ni·cul·ture ['vi-nə-,kəl-chər, 'vī-] -n

  1. viticulture

vi·nif·era [vī-'ni-f(ə-)rə] -n, adj

  1. a common European grape ( Vitis vinifera) that is the chief source of Old World wine and table grape varieties

vi·ni·fi·ca·tion [,vi-nə-fə-'kā-shən, ,vī-] -n

  1. the conversion of fruit juices (as grape juice) into wine by fermentation

vin·i·fy ['vi-nə-,fī, 'vī-] -vt

  1. to make wine from (grapes often of a specified kind)
  2. to make (wine) from grapes

vi·no ['vē-(,)nō] -n

  1. wine

vi·nos·i·ty [vī-'nä-sə-tē] -n

  1. the characteristic body, flavor, and color of a wine

vi·nous ['vī-nəs] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or made with wine
    • vinous medications
  2. showing the effects of the use of wine
  3. vinaceous

vin·tage ['vin-tij] -n

  1. a season's yield of grapes or wine from a vineyard
  2. wine
  3. a usu. superior wine all or most of which comes from a single year
  4. a collection of contemporaneous and similar persons or things : crop
  5. the act or time of harvesting grapes or making wine
  6. a period of origin or manufacture
    • a piano of 1845 vintage
  7. length of existence : age

vintage -adj

  1. of, relating to, or produced in a particular vintage
  2. of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance, or quality : classic
  3. dating from the past : old
  4. outmoded, old-fashioned
  5. of the best and most characteristic used with a proper noun
    • vintage Shaw: a wise and winning comedy -- Time

vin·tag·er ['vin-ti-jər] -n

  1. a person concerned with the production of grapes and wine

vintage year -n

  1. a year in which a vintage wine is produced
  2. a year of outstanding distinction or success

vint·ner ['vint-nər] -n

  1. a wine merchant
  2. a person who makes wine

viny ['vī-nē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or resembling vines
    • viny plants
  2. covered with or abounding in vines

vi·nyl ['vī-nᵊl] -n, adj

  1. a monovalent radical CH 2CH derived from ethylene by removal of one hydrogen atom
  2. a polymer of a vinyl compound or a product (as a resin or a textile fiber) made from such a polymer

vinyl alcohol -n

  1. an unstable compound CH 2CHOH isolated only in the form of its polymers or derivatives

vinyl chloride -n

  1. a flammable gaseous carcinogenic compound C 2H 3Cl that is used esp. to make vinyl resins

vi·nyl·i·dene [vī-'ni-lə-,dēn] -n

  1. a divalent radical CH 2C derived from ethylene by removal of two hydrogen atoms from one carbon atom

vinyl resin -n

  1. any of various thermoplastic resinous materials that are essentially polymers of vinyl compounds

vi·ol ['vī(-ə)l, 'vī-(,)ōl] -n

  1. a bowed stringed instrument chiefly of the 16th and 17th centuries made in treble, alto, tenor, and bass sizes and distinguished from members of the violin family esp. in having a deep body, a flat back, sloping shoulders, usu. six strings, a fretted fingerboard, and a low-arched bridge

vi·o·la [vī-'ō-lə, vē-; 'vī-ə-] -n

  1. violet
  2. any of various garden hybrids with solitary white, yellow, or purple often variegated flowers resembling but smaller than typical pansies
  3. a musical instrument of the violin family that is intermediate in size and compass between the violin and cello and is tuned a fifth below the violin

vi·o·la·ble ['vī-ə-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being or likely to be violated

vi·o·la·ceous [,vī-ə-'lā-shəs] -adj

  1. of the color violet

vi·o·la da gam·ba [vē-,ō-lə-də-'gäm-bə, -'gam-] -n

  1. a bass member of the viol family having a range approximating the cello

viola d'a·mo·re [-də-'mȯr-ē, -(,)ā] -n

  1. a tenor viol having usu. seven gut and seven wire strings

vi·o·late ['vī-ə-,lāt] -vt, adj, n

  1. break, disregard
    • violate the law
  2. to do harm to the person or esp. the chastity of
  3. rape
  4. to fail to show proper respect for : profane
    • violate a shrine
  5. interrupt, disturb
    • violate the peace of a spring evening -- Nancy Larter
  6. subjected to violation

vi·o·la·tion [,vī-ə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. : the act of violating : the state of being violated: as
  2. infringement, transgression
  3. an infringement of the rules in sports that is less serious than a foul and usu. involves technicalities of play
  4. an act of irreverence or desecration : profanation
  5. disturbance, interruption
  6. rape , ravishment

vi·o·lence ['vī-lən(t)s, 'vī-ə-] -n

  1. exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse (as in warfare effecting illegal entry into a house)
  2. an instance of violent treatment or procedure
  3. injury by or as if by distortion, infringement, or profanation : outrage
  4. intense, turbulent, or furious and often destructive action or force
    • the violence of the storm
  5. vehement feeling or expression : fervor
  6. an instance of such action or feeling
  7. a clashing or jarring quality : discordance
  8. undue alteration (as of wording or sense in editing a text)

vi·o·lent [-lənt] -adj, adv

  1. marked by extreme force or sudden intense activity
    • a violent attack
  2. notably furious or vehement
    • a violent denunciation
  3. extreme, intense
    • violent pain
    • violent colors
  4. caused by force : not natural
    • a violent death
  5. emotionally agitated to the point of loss of self-control
    • became violent after an insult
  6. prone to commit acts of violence
    • violent prison inmates

violent storm -n

  1. storm

vi·o·let ['vī-(ə-)lət] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Violaof the family Violaceae, the violet family) of chiefly herbs with alternate stipulate leaves and showy flowers in spring and often cleistogamous flowers in summer
  2. one with smaller usu. solid-colored flowers as distinguished from the usu. larger-flowered violas and pansies
  3. any of several plants of genera other than that of the violet
  4. any of a group of colors of reddish-blue hue, low lightness, and medium saturation

vi·o·lin [,vī-ə-'lin] -n, adj

  1. a bowed stringed instrument having four strings tuned at intervals of a fifth and a usual range from G below middle C upward for more than 4 octaves and having a shallow body, shoulders at right angles to the neck, a fingerboard without frets, and a curved bridge

vi·o·lon·cel·lo [,vī-ə-lən-'che-(,)lō, ,vē-] -n

  1. cello

vio·my·cin [,vī-ə-'mī-sᵊn] -n

  1. a polypeptide antibiotic C 25H 43N 13O 10that is produced by several soil actinomycetes (genus Streptomyces) and is administered in the form of its sulfate in the treatment of tuberculosis

VIP [,vē-,ī-'pē] -n

  1. a person of great influence or prestige
  2. a high official with special privileges

vi·per ['vī-pər] -n

  1. a common Eurasian venomous snake ( Vipera berus) that attains a length of about two feet (0.6 meter), varies in color from red, brown, or gray with dark markings to black, and is usu. not fatal to humans
  2. any of a family (Viperidae) of venomous snakes that includes Old World snakes (subfamily Viperinae) and the pit vipers
  3. a venomous or reputedly venomous snake
  4. a vicious or treacherous person

vi·per·ine [-pə-,rīn] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a viper : venomous

vi·per·ish [-p(ə-)rish] -adj

  1. spitefully vituperative : venomous

vi·per·ous [-p(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv

  1. viperine
  2. having the qualities attributed to a viper : malignant, venomous
    • the backstabbing of a viperous family

viper's bugloss -n

  1. a coarse Old World herb ( Echium vulgare) of the borage family that is naturalized in No. America and has showy blue tubular flowers with exserted stamens called also blueweed

vi·ra·go [və-'rä-(,)gō, -'rā-; 'vir-ə-,gō] -n, adj

  1. a loud overbearing woman : termagant
  2. a woman of great stature, strength, and courage

vi·ral ['vī-rəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or caused by a virus
    • a viral infection

vir·e·lay ['vir-ə-,lā] -n

  1. a chiefly French verse form consisting of stanzas of indeterminate length and number with alternating long and short lines and interlaced rhyme (as abab bcbc cdcd dada)

vi·re·mia [vī-'rē-mē-ə] -n, adj

  1. the presence of viruses in the blood

vir·eo ['vir-ē-,ō] -n

  1. any of various small insectivorous American oscine birds (family Vireonidae, esp. genus Vireo) that are chiefly olivaceous and grayish in color

vires ['vis] -n

(variant of vis)

  1. force, power
  2. visibility; visible
  3. visual

vi·res·cence [və-'re-sᵊn(t)s, vī-] -n

  1. the state or condition of becoming green
  2. such a condition due to the development of chloroplasts in plant organs (as petals) normally white or colored

vi·res·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj

  1. beginning to be green : greenish
  2. developing or displaying virescence

vir·ga ['vər-gə] -n

  1. wisps of precipitation evaporating before reaching the ground

vir·gate ['vər-,gāt] -n

  1. an old English unit of land area equal to one quarter of a hide or one quarter of an acre

virgate -adj

  1. shaped like a rod or wand
    • a virgate one-flowered branch

vir·gin ['vər-jən] -n

  1. an unmarried woman devoted to religion
  2. virgo
  3. an absolutely chaste young woman
  4. an unmarried girl or woman
  5. virgin mary
  6. a person who has not had sexual intercourse
  7. a person who is inexperienced in a usu. specified sphere of activity
    • a virgin in politics
  8. a female animal that has never copulated

virgin -adj

  1. free of impurity or stain : unsullied
  2. chaste
  3. characteristic of or befitting a virgin : modest
  4. fresh, unspoiled
  5. not altered by human activity
    • a virgin forest
  6. being used or worked for the first time
  7. produced directly from ore by primary smelting
  8. initial, first
  9. obtained from the first light pressing and without heating
  10. containing no alcohol
    • a virgin daiquiri

vir·gin·al ['vər-jə-nᵊl, 'vərj-nəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a virgin or virginity
  2. pure, chaste
    • a virginal young girl
  3. pristine, unsullied
    • a virginal snowfall

virginal ['vər-jə-nᵊl-ist, 'vərj-nə-list] -n

  1. a small rectangular spinet having no legs and only one wire to a note and popular in the 16th and 17th centuries often used in pl. called also pair of virginals

virgin birth -n

  1. birth from a virgin
  2. the theological doctrine that Jesus was miraculously begotten of God and born of a virgin mother

Vir·gin·ia bluebells [vər-'jin-yə-, -'ji-nē-ə-] -n pl

  1. bluebell

Virginia creeper -n

  1. a common No. American tendril-climbing vine ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia) of the grape family with palmately compound leaves and bluish-black berries called also woodbine

Virginia fence -n

  1. worm fence called also Virginia rail fence

Virginia ham -n

  1. a dry-cured, smoked, and aged ham esp. from a peanut-fed hog

Virginia pine -n

  1. a pine ( Pinus virginiana) of the eastern U.S. that has short needles occurring in pairs called also Jersey pine

Virginia rail -n

  1. an American long-billed rail ( Rallus limicola) that has gray cheeks

Virginia reel -n

  1. an American dance in which two lines of couples face each other and all couples in turn participate in a series of figures

Virginia snakeroot -n

  1. a birthwort ( Aristolochia serpentaria) of the eastern U.S. with oblong leaves usu. cordate at the base and pointed at the tip and a solitary basal brownish-purple flower

vir·gin·i·ty [(,)vər-'ji-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being virgin
  2. maidenhood
  3. the unmarried life : celibacy, spinsterhood

Virgin Mary -n

  1. the mother of Jesus

virgin's bower -n

  1. any of several usu. small-flowered and climbing clematises (esp. Clematis virginiana)

virgin wool -n

  1. wool not used before in manufacture

Vir·go ['vər-(,)gō, 'vir-] -n

  1. a zodiacal constellation on the celestial equator that lies due south of the handle of the Big Dipper and is pictured as a woman holding a spike of grain
  2. the sixth sign of the zodiac in astrology
  3. one born under the sign of Virgo

vir·gule ['vər-(,)gyül] -n

  1. slash

vi·ri·ci·dal [,vī-rə-'sī-dᵊl] -adj, n

  1. virucidal

vir·id ['vir-əd] -adj

  1. vividly green : verdant

vir·i·des·cent [,vir-ə-'de-sᵊnt] -adj

  1. slightly green : greenish

vi·rid·i·an [və-'ri-dē-ən] -n

  1. a chrome green pigment that is a hydrated oxide of chromium

vi·rid·i·ty [və-'ri-də-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being green
  2. the color of grass or foliage
  3. naive innocence

vir·ile ['vir-əl, 'vir-,ī(-ə)l, Brit also 'vī(-ə)r-,ī(-ə)l] -adj, adv

  1. having the nature, properties, or qualities of an adult male
  2. capable of functioning as a male in copulation
  3. energetic, vigorous
  4. characteristic of or associated with men : masculine
  5. having traditionally masculine traits esp. to a marked degree
  6. masterful, forceful

vir·il·ism ['vir-ə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. the appearance of secondary male characteristics (as facial hair) in the female

vi·ril·i·ty [və-'ri-lə-tē, Brit also vī-] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being virile:
  2. manhood
  3. manly vigor : masculinity

vi·ri·on ['vī-rē-,än, 'vir-ē-] -n

  1. a complete virus particle that consists of an RNA or DNA core with a protein coat sometimes with external envelopes and that is the extracellular infective form of a virus

virl ['vər(-ə)l] -n

  1. ferrule

vi·roid ['vī-,rȯid] -n

  1. any of two families ( Pospiviroidaeand Avsunviroidae) of subviral particles that consist of a small single-stranded RNA arranged in a closed loop without a protein shell and that replicate in their host plants where they may or may not be pathogenic

vi·rol·o·gy [vī-'rä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of science that deals with viruses and viral diseases

vir·tu [,vər-'tü, ,vir-] -n

  1. a love of or taste for curios or objets d'art
  2. productions of art esp. of a curious or antique nature : objets d'art

vir·tu·al ['vər-chə-wəl, -chəl; 'vərch-wəl] -adj

  1. being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted
    • a virtual dictator
  2. of, relating to, or using virtual memory
  3. of, relating to, or being a hypothetical particle whose existence is inferred from indirect evidence
    • virtual photons
  4. : being on or simulated on a computer or computer network
    • print or virtual books
    • a virtual keyboard
    : as
  5. occurring or existing primarily online
    • a virtual library
    • virtual shopping
  6. of, relating to, or existing within a virtual reality
    • a virtual world
    • a virtual tour

virtual image -n

  1. an image (as seen in a plane mirror) formed of points from which divergent rays (as of light) seem to emanate without actually doing so

vir·tu·al·i·ty [,vər-chə-'wa-lə-tē] -n

  1. essence
  2. potential existence : potentiality

vir·tu·al·ly ['vər-chə-wə-lē, -chə-lē; 'vərch-wə-lē] -adv

  1. almost entirely : nearly
  2. for all practical purposes
    • virtually unknown

virtual memory -n

  1. a section of a hard drive that can be used as if it were an extension of a computer's random-access memory called also virtual storage

virtual reality -n

  1. an artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli (as sights and sounds) provided by a computer and in which one's actions partially determine what happens in the environment
  2. the technology used to create or access a virtual reality

vir·tue ['vər-(,)chü] -n, adj

  1. conformity to a standard of right : morality
  2. a particular moral excellence
  3. an order of angels
  4. a beneficial quality or power of a thing
  5. manly strength or courage : valor
  6. a commendable quality or trait : merit
  7. a capacity to act : potency
  8. chastity esp. in a woman

vir·tu·o·sa [,vər-chü-'ō-sə, -zə] -n

  1. a girl or woman who is a virtuoso

vir·tu·os·i·ty [-'ä-sə-tē] -n

  1. a taste for or interest in virtu
  2. great technical skill (as in the practice of a fine art)

vir·tu·o·so [-'ō-(,)sō, -(,)zō] -n, adj

  1. an experimenter or investigator esp. in the arts and sciences : savant
  2. one skilled in or having a taste for the fine arts
  3. one who excels in the technique of an art
  4. a highly skilled musical performer (as on the violin)
  5. a person who has great skill at some endeavor
    • a computer virtuoso
    • a virtuoso at public relations

vir·tu·ous ['vər-chə-wəs, 'vərch-wəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. potent, efficacious
  2. having or exhibiting virtue
  3. morally excellent : righteous
    • a virtuous decision
  4. chaste

vi·ru·cid·al [,vī-rə-'sī-dᵊl] -adj, n

  1. having the capacity to or tending to destroy or inactivate viruses
    • virucidal agents
    • virucidal activity

vir·u·lence ['vir-ə-lən(t)s, 'vir-yə-] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being virulent: as
  2. extreme bitterness or malignity of temper : rancor
  3. malignancy, venomousness
    • ameliorate the virulence of a disease
  4. the relative capacity of a pathogen to overcome body defenses

vir·u·len·cy [-lən(t)-sē] -n

  1. virulence

vir·u·lent ['vir-ə-lənt, 'vir-yə-] -adj, adv

  1. marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course
    • a virulent infection
  2. able to overcome bodily defensive mechanisms : markedly pathogenic
    • virulent bacteria
  3. extremely poisonous or venomous
  4. full of malice : malignant
    • virulent racists
  5. objectionably harsh or strong
    • virulent criticism

vir·u·lif·er·ous [,vir-ə-'li-f(ə-)rəs, ,vir-yə-] -adj

  1. containing, producing, or conveying an agent of infection and esp. a virus
    • viruliferous insects

vi·rus ['vī-rəs] -n

  1. venom
  2. the causative agent of an infectious disease
  3. any of a large group of submicroscopic infective agents that are regarded either as extremely simple microorganisms or as extremely complex molecules, that typically contain a protein coat surrounding an RNA or DNA core of genetic material but no semipermeable membrane, that are capable of growth and multiplication only in living cells, and that cause various important diseases in humans, lower animals, or plants
  4. filterable virus
  5. a disease or illness caused by a virus
  6. something that poisons the mind or soul
    • the force of this virus of prejudice -- V. S. Waters
  7. a computer program that is usu. hidden within another seemingly innocuous program and that produces copies of itself and inserts them into other programs and usu. performs a malicious action (as destroying data)

vis ['vis] -n

  1. force, power
  2. visibility; visible
  3. visual

vi·sa ['vē-zə also -sə] -n

  1. an endorsement made on a passport by the proper authorities denoting that it has been examined and that the bearer may proceed
  2. a signature of formal approval by a superior upon a document

visa [-zəd, -səd] -vt

  1. to give a visa to (a passport)

vis·age ['vi-zij] -n

  1. the face, countenance, or appearance of a person or sometimes an animal
  2. aspect, appearance
    • the grimy visage of a mining town

vis·aged ['vi-zijd] -adj

  1. having a visage of a specified kind usu. used in combination
    • grim- visaged

visavis ['vēz-ə-'vē, ,vēs- also -ä-'vē] -prep

  1. face-to-face with
  2. in relation to
  3. as compared with
  4. one that is face-to-face with another
  5. escort, date
  6. counterpart
  7. tete-a-tete
  8. in company : together

Vi·sa·yan [və-'sī-ən] -n

  1. a member of any of several peoples in the Visayan Islands, Philippines
  2. the group of Austronesian languages of the Bisayans

vis·ca·cha [vis-'kä-chə] -n

  1. any of several So. American burrowing rodents (genera Lagostomusand Lagidium) closely related to the chinchilla

viscera ['vis-kəs] -n

(variant of viscus)

  1. an internal organ of the body
  2. one (as the heart, liver, or intestine) located in the great cavity of the trunk proper
  3. heart

vis·cer·al ['vi-sə-rəl, 'vis-rəl] -adj, adv

  1. felt in or as if in the viscera : deep
    • a visceral conviction
  2. not intellectual : instinctive, unreasoning
    • visceral drives
  3. dealing with crude or elemental emotions : earthy
    • a visceral novel
  4. of, relating to, or located on or among the viscera : splanchnic
    • visceral organs

vis·cid ['vi-səd] -adj, n, adv

  1. having an adhesive quality : sticky
  2. having a glutinous consistency : viscous
  3. covered with a sticky layer

vis·co·elas·tic [,vis-kō-ə-'las-tik] -adj, n

  1. having appreciable and conjoint viscous and elastic properties
    • such viscoelastic materials as asphalt
  2. constituting or relating to the state of viscoelastic materials
    • viscoelastic data
    • viscoelastic properties

vis·com·e·ter [vis-'kä-mə-tər] -n, adj

  1. an instrument with which to measure viscosity

vis·cose ['vis-,kōs, -,kōz] -n

  1. a viscous golden-brown solution made by treating cellulose with caustic alkali solution and carbon disulfide and used in making rayon and films of regenerated cellulose
  2. viscose rayon

viscose -adj

  1. of, relating to, or made from viscose

vis·co·sim·e·ter [,vis-kə-'si-mə-tər] -n, adj

  1. viscometer

vis·cos·i·ty [vis-'kä-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being viscous
  2. the property of resistance to flow in a fluid or semifluid
  3. the ratio of the tangential frictional force per unit area to the velocity gradient perpendicular to the direction of flow of a liquid called also coefficient of viscosity

viscosity index -n

  1. an arbitrary number assigned as a measure of the constancy of the viscosity of a lubricating oil with change of temperature with higher numbers indicating viscosities that change little with temperature

vis·count ['vī-,kau̇nt] -n

  1. a member of the peerage in Great Britain ranking below an earl and above a baron

vis·count·ess [-,kau̇n-təs] -n

  1. the wife or widow of a viscount
  2. a woman who holds the rank of viscount in her own right

vis·cous ['vis-kəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. viscid
  2. having or characterized by viscosity
    • viscous lava

vis·cus ['vis-kəs] -n

  1. an internal organ of the body
  2. one (as the heart, liver, or intestine) located in the great cavity of the trunk proper
  3. heart

vise ['vīs] -n, adj

  1. any of various tools with two jaws for holding work that close usu. by a screw, lever, or cam
  2. something likened to a vise
    • economic vise of slow growth and rampant price increases -- David Milne
  3. to hold, force, or squeeze with or as if with a vise

vi·se ['vē-,zā, vē-'] -vt

  1. visa

vise -n

  1. visa

Vish·nu ['vish-(,)nü] -n

  1. the preserver god of the Hindu sacred triad

vis·i·bil·i·ty [,vi-zə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being visible
  2. the degree of clearness (as of the atmosphere or ocean)
  3. the greatest distance through the atmosphere toward the horizon at which prominent objects can be identified with the naked eye
  4. capability of being readily noticed
  5. capability of affording an unobstructed view
  6. publicity
  7. a measure of the ability of radiant energy to evoke visual sensation

vis·i·ble ['vi-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being seen
    • stars visible to the naked eye
  2. situated in the region of the electromagnetic spectrum perceptible to human vision
    • visible light
    used of radiation having a wavelength between about 400 nanometers and 700 nanometers
  3. exposed to view
    • the visible horizon
  4. conspicuous
    • has played a highly visible role in the negotiations
  5. well-known
    • a highly visible politician
  6. capable of being discovered or perceived : recognizable
    • no visible means of support
  7. accessible
    • visible resources
  8. devised to keep a particular part or item always in full view or readily seen or referred to
    • a visible index

visible speech -n

  1. a set of phonetic symbols based on symbols for articulatory position
  2. speech reproduced spectrographically

Vis·i·goth ['vi-zə-,gäth] -n, adj

  1. a member of the western division of the Goths

vi·sion ['vi-zhən] -n, adj, adv

  1. something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy
  2. a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation
  3. a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination
  4. a manifestation to the senses of something immaterial
    • look, not at vision s, but at realities -- Edith Wharton
  5. the act or power of imagination
  6. mode of seeing or conceiving
  7. unusual discernment or foresight
    • a person of vision
  8. direct mystical awareness of the supernatural usu. in visible form
  9. the act or power of seeing : sight
  10. the special sense by which the qualities of an object (as color, luminosity, shape, and size) constituting its appearance are perceived through a process in which light rays entering the eye are transformed by the retina into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve
  11. something seen
  12. a lovely or charming sight

vision ['vi-zhə-niŋ, 'vizh-niŋ] -vt

  1. envision

vi·sion·ary ['vi-zhə-,ner-ē] -adj, n

  1. of the nature of a vision : illusory
  2. incapable of being realized or achieved : utopian
    • a visionary scheme
  3. existing only in imagination : unreal
  4. able or likely to see visions
  5. disposed to reverie or imagining : dreamy
  6. of, relating to, or characterized by visions or the power of vision
  7. having or marked by foresight and imagination
    • a visionary leader
    • a visionary invention

visionary -n

  1. one whose ideas or projects are impractical : dreamer
  2. one who sees visions : seer
  3. one having unusual foresight and imagination
    • a visionary in the computer industry

vi·sioned ['vi-zhənd] -adj

  1. seen in a vision
    • a visioned face
  2. produced by or experienced in a vision
    • visioned agony
  3. endowed with vision : inspired

vi·sion·less ['vi-zhən-ləs] -adj

  1. sightless, blind
    • visionless eyes
  2. lacking vision or inspiration
    • a visionless leader

vision quest -n

  1. a solitary vigil by an adolescent American Indian boy to seek spiritual power and learn through a vision the identity of his usu. animal or bird guardian spirit

vis·it ['vi-zət] -vb

  1. comfort used of the Deity
    • visit us with Thy salvation -- Charles Wesley
  2. afflict
    • visit ed his people with distempers -- Tobias Smollett
  3. inflict, impose
    • visit ed his wrath upon them
  4. avenge
    • visit ed the sins of the fathers upon the children
  5. to present itself to or come over momentarily
    • was visit ed by a strange notion
  6. to go to see in order to comfort or help
  7. to pay a call on as an act of friendship or courtesy
  8. to reside with temporarily as a guest
  9. to go to see or stay at (a place) for a particular purpose (as business or sightseeing)
  10. to go or come officially to inspect or oversee
    • a bishop visit ing his parishes
  11. to make a visit
  12. to make frequent or regular visits
  13. chat, converse
    • enjoys visit ing with the neighbors

visit -n

  1. a short stay : call
  2. a brief residence as a guest
  3. an extended stay : sojourn
  4. a journey to and stay or short sojourn at a place
  5. an official or professional call or tour : visitation
  6. the act of a naval officer in boarding a merchant ship on the high seas in exercise of the right of search

vis·it·able ['vi-zə-tə-bəl, 'viz-tə-] -adj

  1. subject to or allowing visitation or inspection
  2. socially eligible to receive visits

vis·i·tant ['vi-zə-tənt, 'viz-tənt] -n, adj

  1. visitor
  2. one thought to come from a spirit world
  3. a migratory bird that appears at intervals for a limited period

vis·i·ta·tion [,vi-zə-'tā-shən] -n

  1. : an instance of visiting: as
  2. an official visit (as for inspection)
  3. wake
  4. temporary custody of a child granted to a noncustodial parent
    • visitation rights
  5. a special dispensation of divine favor or wrath
  6. a severe trial : affliction
  7. the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth recounted in Luke and celebrated July 2 by a Christian feast

vis·i·ta·to·ri·al [,vi-zə-tə-'tȯr-ē-əl, ,viz-tə-] -adj

  1. of or relating to visitation or to a judicial visitor or superintendent

visiting -adj

  1. invited to join or attend an institution (as a university) for a limited time
    • a visiting professor
    • a visiting fellow
  2. playing on an opponent's grounds
    • the visiting team

visiting card -n

  1. a small card presented when visiting that bears the name and sometimes the address of the visitor

visiting fireman -n

  1. a usu. important or influential visitor whom it is desirable or expedient to entertain impressively

visiting nurse -n

  1. a nurse employed by a hospital or social-service agency to perform public health services and esp. to visit and provide care for sick persons in a community

vis·i·tor ['vi-zə-tər, 'viz-tər] -n

  1. one that visits
  2. one that makes formal visits of inspection

vi·sor ['vī-zər] -n, adj

  1. the front piece of a helmet
  2. a movable upper piece
  3. a face mask
  4. disguise
  5. a projecting front on a cap or headband for shading the eyes
  6. a usu. movable flat sunshade attached at the top of an automobile windshield

vis·ta ['vis-tə] -n

  1. a distant view through or along an avenue or opening : prospect
  2. an extensive mental view (as over a stretch of time or a series of events)

VISTA -abbr

  1. Volunteers in Service to America

vis·taed ['vis-təd] -adj

  1. affording or made to form a vista
  2. seen in or as if in a vista

vi·su·al ['vi-zhə-wəl, -zhəl; 'vizh-wəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or used in vision
    • visual organs
  2. attained or maintained by sight
    • visual impressions
  3. visible
    • visual objects
  4. producing mental images : vivid
  5. done or executed by sight only
    • visual navigation
  6. of, relating to, or employing visual aids

visual -n

  1. something (as a graphic) that appeals to the sight and is used for effect or illustration usu. used in pl.

visual acuity -n

  1. the relative ability of the visual organ to resolve detail that is usu. expressed as the reciprocal of the minimum angular separation in minutes of two lines just resolvable as separate and that forms in the average human eye an angle of one minute

visual aid -n

  1. an instructional device (as a chart, map, or model) that appeals chiefly to vision
  2. an educational motion picture or filmstrip

visual cortex -n

  1. a sensory area of the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex receiving afferent nerve fibers concerned with vision called also visual area

visual field -n

  1. the entire expanse of space visible at a given instant without moving the eyes called also field of vision

vi·su·al·i·sa·tion [,vi-zhə-wə-lə-'zā-shən, ,vi-zhə-lə-, ,vizh-wə-lə-] -n

(variant of visualization)

  1. formation of mental visual images
  2. the act or process of interpreting in visual terms or of putting into visible form
  3. the process of making an internal organ or part visible by the introduction (as by swallowing) of a radiopaque substance followed by radiography

vi·su·al·i·za·tion [,vi-zhə-wə-lə-'zā-shən, ,vi-zhə-lə-, ,vizh-wə-lə-] -n

  1. formation of mental visual images
  2. the act or process of interpreting in visual terms or of putting into visible form
  3. the process of making an internal organ or part visible by the introduction (as by swallowing) of a radiopaque substance followed by radiography

vi·su·al·ize ['vi-zhə-wə-,līz, 'vi-zhə-,līz, 'vizh-wə-,līz] -vb

  1. : to make visible: as
  2. to see or form a mental image of : envisage
    • trying to visualize the problem
  3. to make (an internal organ or part) visible by radiographic visualization
  4. to form a mental visual image

vi·su·al·iz·er [-,lī-zər] -n

  1. one that visualizes
  2. a person whose mental imagery is prevailingly visual

visual literacy -n

  1. the ability to recognize and understand ideas conveyed through visible actions or images (as pictures)

visual purple -n

  1. a photosensitive red or purple pigment in the retinal rods of various vertebrates
  2. rhodopsin

vi·suo·spa·tial [,vi-zhə-wō-'spā-shəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being thought processes that involve visual and spatial awareness
    • visuospatial problem solving

vi·ta ['vē-tə, 'vī-tə] -n

  1. a brief biographical sketch
  2. curriculum vitae

vi·tal ['vī-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. existing as a manifestation of life
  2. concerned with or necessary to the maintenance of life
    • vital organs
    • blood and other vital fluids
  3. full of life and vigor : animated
  4. characteristic of life or living beings
  5. : fundamentally concerned with or affecting life or living beings: as
  6. tending to renew or refresh the living : invigorating
  7. destructive to life : mortal
  8. of the utmost importance
    • a vital clue
    • vital resources
  9. recording data relating to lives
  10. of, relating to, or constituting the staining of living tissues

vital capacity -n

  1. the breathing capacity of the lungs expressed as the number of cubic inches or cubic centimeters of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a full inspiration

vi·tal·ism ['vī-tə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from physicochemical forces
  2. a doctrine that the processes of life are not explicable by the laws of physics and chemistry alone and that life is in some part self-determining

vi·tal·i·ty [vī-'ta-lə-tē] -n

  1. the peculiarity distinguishing the living from the nonliving
  2. capacity to live and develop
  3. physical or mental vigor esp. when highly developed
  4. power of enduring
  5. lively and animated character

vi·tal·ize ['vī-tə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to endow with vitality : animate

vi·tals ['vī-tᵊlz] -n pl

  1. vital organs (as the heart, liver, lungs, and brain)
  2. essential parts

vital signs -n pl

  1. signs of life
  2. the pulse rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and often blood pressure of a person

vital statistics -n pl

  1. statistics relating to births, deaths, marriages, health, and disease
  2. facts (as physical dimensions or quantities) considered to be interesting or important
  3. a woman's bust, waist, and hip measurements

vi·ta·min ['vī-tə-mən, Brit usu 'vi-] -n

  1. any of various organic substances that are essential in minute quantities to the nutrition of most animals and some plants, act esp. as coenzymes and precursors of coenzymes in the regulation of metabolic processes but do not provide energy or serve as building units, and are present in natural foodstuffs or sometimes produced within the body

vitamin A -n

  1. any of several fat-soluble vitamins (as retinol) found esp. in animal products (as egg yolk, milk, or fish-liver oils) or a mixture of them whose lack in the animal body causes epithelial tissues to become keratinous (as in the eye with resulting visual defects)

vitamin B [-'bē-'wən] -n

  1. vitamin b complex
  2. thiamine

vitamin B complex -n

  1. a group of water-soluble vitamins that are found esp. in yeast, seed germs, eggs, liver and flesh, and vegetables and that have varied metabolic functions and include coenzymes and growth factors called also B complex

vitamin B6 [-'bē-'siks] -n

  1. pyridoxine or a closely related compound found widely in combined form and considered essential to vertebrate nutrition

vitamin B12 [-'bē-'twelv] -n

  1. a complex cobalt-containing compound C 63H 88CoN 14O 14P that occurs esp. in liver, is essential to normal blood formation, neural function, and growth, and is used esp. in treating pernicious and related anemias and in animal feed as a growth factor called also cyanocobalamin
  2. any of several compounds similar to vitamin B 12in action but having different chemistry

vitamin B2 [-'bē-'tü] -n

  1. riboflavin

vitamin C -n

  1. a water-soluble vitamin C 6H 8O 6found in plants and esp. in fruits and leafy vegetables or made synthetically and used in the prevention and treatment of scurvy and as an antioxidant for foods called also ascorbic acid

vitamin D [-'dē-'tü] -n

  1. : any or all of several fat-soluble vitamins chemically related to steroids, essential for normal bone and tooth structure, and found esp. in fish-liver oils, egg yolk, and milk or produced by activation (as by ultraviolet irradiation) of sterols: as
  2. calciferol
  3. cholecalciferol

vitamin E -n

  1. any of several fat-soluble vitamins that are chemically tocopherols, are essential in the nutrition of various vertebrates in which their absence is associated with infertility, degenerative changes in muscle, or vascular abnormalities, are found esp. in leaves and in seed germ oils, and are used chiefly in animal feeds and as antioxidants

vitamin H -n

  1. biotin

vitamin K -n

  1. either of two naturally occurring fat-soluble vitamins C 31H 46O 2and C 41H 56O 2essential for the clotting of blood because of their role in the production of prothrombin called also respectively vitamin K 1 vitamin K 2
  2. any of several synthetic compounds closely related chemically to natural vitamins K 1and K 2and of similar biological activity

vi·tel·line [vī-'te-lən, -,lēn, -,līn] -adj

  1. resembling the yolk of an egg esp. in yellow color
  2. of, relating to, or producing yolk

vitelline membrane -n

  1. a membrane enclosing an egg that comprises the zona pellucida in mammals and that upon fertilization splits off from the surface of the egg forming a fertilization membrane in many invertebrates and amphibians and in some fish

vi·tel·lo·gen·e·sis [vī-,te-lō-'je-nə-səs, və-] -n

  1. yolk formation

vi·tel·lo·gen·in [vī-,te-lō-'je-nən] -n

  1. a precursor protein of egg yolk normally in the blood or hemolymph only of females that is used as a biomarker in vertebrates of exposure to environmental estrogens which stimulate elevated levels in males as well as females

vi·ti·ate ['vi-shē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to make faulty or defective : impair
    • the comic impact is vitiated by obvious haste -- William Styron
  2. to debase in moral or aesthetic status
    • a mind vitiated by prejudice
  3. to make ineffective
    • fraud vitiate s a contract

vi·ti·cul·ture ['vi-tə-,kəl-chər, 'vī-] -n, adj, adv

  1. the cultivation or culture of grapes esp. for wine making

vit·i·li·go [,vi-tə-'lī-(,)gō, -'lē-] -n

  1. a skin disorder manifested by smooth white spots on various parts of the body

vit·rec·to·my [və-'trek-tə-mē] -n

  1. surgical removal of all or part of the vitreous humor

vit·re·ous ['vi-trē-əs] -adj

  1. resembling glass (as in color, composition, brittleness, or luster) : glassy
    • vitreous rocks
  2. characterized by low porosity and usu. translucence due to the presence of a glassy phase
    • vitreous china
  3. of, relating to, derived from, or consisting of glass
  4. of, relating to, or constituting the vitreous humor
    • vitreous surgery

vitreous -n

  1. vitreous humor

vitreous humor -n

  1. the clear colorless transparent jelly that fills the eyeball posterior to the lens

vitreous silica -n

  1. a chemically stable and refractory glass made from silica alone

vit·ri·fy ['vi-trə-,fī] -vb, adj, n

  1. to convert into glass or a glassy substance by heat and fusion
  2. to become vitrified

vi·trine [və-'trēn] -n

  1. a glass showcase or cabinet esp. for displaying fine wares or specimens

vit·ri·ol ['vi-trē-əl] -n, adj

  1. a sulfate of any of various metals (as copper, iron, or zinc)
  2. a glassy hydrate of such a sulfate
  3. oil of vitriol
  4. something felt to resemble vitriol esp. in caustic quality
  5. virulence of feeling or of speech

vit·ta ['vi-tə] -n

  1. stripe, streak
  2. one of the oil tubes in the fruits of plants of the carrot family

vit·tles ['vi-tᵊlz] -n pl

  1. victuals

vi·tu·per·ate [vī-'tü-pə-,rāt, və-, -'tyü-] -vb, n

  1. to abuse or censure severely or abusively : berate
  2. to use harsh condemnatory language

vi·tu·per·a·tion [(,)vī-,tü-pə-'rā-shən, və-, -'tyü-] -n

  1. sustained and bitter railing and condemnation : vituperative utterance
  2. an act or instance of vituperating

vi·tu·per·a·tive [vī-'tü-p(ə-)rə-tiv, -pə-,rā-] -adj, adv

  1. uttering or given to censure : containing or characterized by verbal abuse

vi·tu·per·a·to·ry [-p(ə-)rə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. vituperative

vi·va ['vē-və, -,vä] -interj

  1. used to express goodwill or approval

vi·va·ce [vē-'vä-(,)chā, -chē] -n

  1. a musical composition or movement in vivace tempo

vivace -adv or adj

  1. in a brisk spirited manner used as a direction in music

vi·va·cious [və-'vā-shəs also vī-] -adj, adv, n

  1. lively in temper, conduct, or spirit : sprightly

vi·vac·i·ty [-'va-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being vivacious

vi·van·diere [,vē-,väⁿ-'dyer] -n

  1. a woman who is a sutler

vi·var·i·um [vī-'ver-ē-əm] -n

  1. a terrarium used esp. for small animals

vi·va vo·ce [,vī-və-'vō-(,)sē or ,vē-və-'vō-(,)chā] -adv

  1. by word of mouth : orally

viva voce -adj

  1. expressed or conducted by word of mouth
  2. an examination conducted viva voce called also viva

vi·vax malaria ['vī-,vaks-] -n

  1. malaria caused by a plasmodium ( Plasmodium vivax) that induces paroxysms at 48-hour intervals

vi·ver·rid [vī-'ver-əd] -n, adj

  1. any of a family (Viverridae) of carnivorous mammals that include the civets, genets, linsangs, and in some classifications the mongooses and that are rarely larger than a domestic cat but are long, slender, and like a weasel in build with short more or less retractile claws and rounded feet

vi·vers ['vē-vərz, 'vī-] -n pl

  1. victuals, food

Viv·i·an ['vi-vē-ən] -n

  1. the mistress of Merlin in Arthurian legend called also Lady of the Lake

viv·id ['vi-vəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. very strong : very high in chroma
  2. having the appearance of vigorous life or freshness : lively
    • a vivid sketch
  3. producing a strong or clear impression on the senses : sharp, intense
  4. producing distinct mental images
    • a vivid description
  5. acting clearly and vigorously
    • a vivid imagination

vi·vif·ic [vī-'vi-fik] -adj

  1. imparting spirit or vivacity

viv·i·fy ['vi-və-,fī] -vt, n

  1. to endow with life or renewed life : animate
    • rains that vivify the barren hills
  2. to impart vitality or vividness to
    • concentrating this union of quality and meaning in a way which vivifies both -- John Dewey

vi·vi·par·i·ty [,vī-və-'pa-rət-ē, ,vi-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being viviparous

vi·vip·a·rous [vī-'vi-p(ə-)rəs, və-] -adj, adv

  1. producing living young instead of eggs from within the body in the manner of nearly all mammals, many reptiles, and a few fishes
  2. germinating while still attached to the parent plant
    • the viviparous seed of the mangrove

viv·i·sect ['vi-və-,sekt] -vb, n

  1. to perform vivisection on : subject to vivisection
  2. to practice vivisection

viv·i·sec·tion [,vi-və-'sek-shən, 'vi-və-,] -n, adj

  1. the cutting of or operation on a living animal usu. for physiological or pathological investigation
  2. animal experimentation esp. if considered to cause distress to the subject
  3. minute or pitiless examination or criticism

vix·en ['vik-sən] -n, adj

  1. a shrewish ill-tempered woman
  2. a female fox
  3. a sexually attractive woman

viz -abbr

  1. videlicet

viz·ard ['vi-zərd, -,zärd] -n

  1. a mask for disguise or protection
  2. disguise, guise

vizcacha [vis-'kä-chə] -n

(variant of viscacha)

  1. any of several So. American burrowing rodents (genera Lagostomusand Lagidium) closely related to the chinchilla

vi·zier [və-'zir] -n, adj

  1. a high executive officer of various Muslim countries and esp. of the Ottoman Empire
  2. a civil officer in ancient Egypt having viceregal powers

vizor ['vī-zər] -n, adj

(variant of visor)

  1. the front piece of a helmet
  2. a movable upper piece
  3. a face mask
  4. disguise
  5. a projecting front on a cap or headband for shading the eyes
  6. a usu. movable flat sunshade attached at the top of an automobile windshield

vizs·la ['vēz-lə, 'vēs-, 'vizh-] -n

  1. any of a breed of hunting dogs of Hungarian origin that resemble the Weimaraner but have a rich deep red coat and brown eyes