Ve·adar ['vā-,ä-,där, 'vā-ə-] -n
- adar sheni
veal ['vēl] -n
- the flesh of a young calf
- calf
- vealer
- to kill and dress (a calf) for veal
veal·er ['vē-lər] -n
- a calf grown for or suitable for veal
vealy ['vē-lē] -adj
- resembling or suggesting veal or a calf
- immature
vec·tor ['vek-tər] -n, adj, adv
- a quantity that has magnitude and direction and that is commonly represented by a directed line segment whose length represents the magnitude and whose orientation in space represents the direction
- an element of a vector space
- a course or compass direction esp. of an airplane
- an organism (as an insect) that transmits a pathogen
- pollinator
- an agent (as a plasmid or virus) that contains or carries modified genetic material (as recombinant DNA) and can be used to introduce exogenous genes into the genome of an organism
vector [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vt
- to guide (as an airplane, its pilot, or a missile) in flight by means of a radioed vector
- to change the direction of (the thrust of a jet engine) for steering
vector field -n
- a set of vectors that is defined in relation to a function such that each point of the function is associated with a vector from the set
vector product -n
- a vector cwhose length is the product of the lengths of two vectors aand band the sine of their included angle, whose direction is perpendicular to their plane, and whose direction is that in which a right-handed screw rotated from atoward balong axis cwould move called also cross product
vector space -n
- a set of vectors along with operations of addition and multiplication such that the set is a commutative group under addition, it includes a multiplicative inverse, and multiplication by scalars is both associative and distributive
vector sum -n
- the sum of a number of vectors that for the sum of two vectors is geometrically represented by the diagonal of a parallelogram whose sides represent the two vectors being added
Ve·da ['vā-də] -n
- any of four canonical collections of hymns, prayers, and liturgical formulas that comprise the earliest Hindu sacred writings
ve·da·lia [vi-'dāl-yə] -n
- an Australian ladybug ( Rodolia cardinalis) introduced to many countries to control scale insects called also vedalia beetle
Ve·dan·ta [vā-'dän-tə, və-, -'dan-] -n
- an orthodox system of Hindu philosophy developing esp. in a qualified monism the speculations of the Upanishads on ultimate reality and the liberation of the soul
Ve·dan·tic [-'dän-tik, -'dan-] -adj
- of or relating to the Vedanta philosophy
- vedic
Ved·da ['ve-də] -n
- a member of an aboriginal people of Sri Lanka
Ved·doid ['ve-,dȯid] -n, adj
- a member of a race of southern Asia traditionally classified by such physical features as wavy to curly hair, chocolate-brown skin color, and slender body build
ve·dette [vi-'det] -n
- a mounted sentinel stationed in advance of pickets
Ve·dic ['vā-dik] -adj
- of or relating to the Vedas, the language in which they are written, or Hindu history and culture between 1500 b.c.and 500 b.c.
vee ['vē] -n
- the letter v
- something shaped like the letter V
vee·jay ['vē-,jā] -n
- an announcer of a program (as on television) that features music videos
veena ['vē-nə] -n
(variant of vina)
- a stringed instrument of India having usu. four strings on a long bamboo fingerboard with movable frets and a gourd resonator at each end
veep ['vēp] -n
- vice president
veer ['vir] -vt
- to let out (as a rope)
- to change direction or course
- the economy veer ed sharply downward
- to shift in a clockwise direction
- to change course by turning the stern to the wind
- to direct to a different course
- wear
- a change in course or direction
vee·ry ['vir-ē] -n
- an American thrush ( Catharus fuscescens) common in the eastern U.S.
veg ['vej] -n
- vegetable
Ve·ga ['vē-gə, 'vā-] -n
- the brightest star in the constellation Lyra
veg·an ['vē-gən also 'vā- also 've-jən or -,jan] -n, adj
- a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products
- one who abstains from using animal products (as leather)
veg·e·ta·ble ['vej-tə-bəl, 've-jə-] -adj
- of, relating to, constituting, or growing like plants
- consisting of plants : vegetational
- made from, obtained from, or containing plants or plant products
- resembling or suggesting a plant (as in inertness or passivity)
vegetable -n
- plant
- a usu. herbaceous plant (as the cabbage, bean, or potato) grown for an edible part that is usu. eaten as part of a meal
- such an edible part
- a person whose mental and physical functioning is severely impaired and esp. one who requires supportive measures (as mechanical ventilation) to survive
vegetable ivory -n
- the hard white opaque endosperm of the ivory nut that takes a high polish and is used as a substitute for ivory
- ivory nut
vegetable marrow -n
- any of various smooth-skinned elongated summer squashes with creamy-white to deep green skins
vegetable oil -n
- an oil of plant origin
- a fatty oil from seeds or fruits
vegetable oyster -n
- salsify
vegetable pear -n
- chayote
vegetable wax -n
- a wax of plant origin secreted commonly in thin flakes by the walls of epidermal cells
veg·e·ta·bly ['vej-tə-blē, 've-jə-] -adv or adj
- in the manner of or like a vegetable
veg·e·tal ['ve-jə-tᵊl] -adj
- vegetable
- vegetative
- of or relating to the vegetal pole of an egg or to that part of an egg from which the endoderm normally develops
vegetal pole -n
- the point on the surface of an egg that is diametrically opposite to the animal pole and usu. marks the center of the protoplasm containing more yolk
veg·e·tar·i·an [,ve-jə-'ter-ē-ən] -n
- one who believes in or practices vegetarianism
- herbivore
vegetarian -adj
- of or relating to vegetarians
- consisting wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy products
veg·e·tar·i·an·ism [-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n
- the theory or practice of living on a vegetarian diet
veg·e·tate ['ve-jə-,tāt] -vb
- to grow in the manner of a plant
- to grow exuberantly or with proliferation of fleshy or warty outgrowths
- to produce vegetation
- to lead a passive existence without exertion of body or mind
- to establish vegetation in or on
veg·e·ta·tion [,ve-jə-'tā-shən] -n, adj
- the act or process of vegetating
- inert existence
- plant life or total plant cover (as of an area)
- an abnormal growth upon a body part
- fibrin vegetation s on the mitral valve
veg·e·ta·tive ['ve-jə-,tā-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- growing or having the power of growing
- of, relating to, or engaged in nutritive and growth functions as contrasted with reproductive functions
- promoting plant growth
- the vegetative properties of soil
- of, relating to, or involving propagation by nonsexual processes or methods
- relating to, composed of, or suggesting vegetation
- of or relating to the division of nature comprising the plant kingdom
- autonomic
- characterized by, resulting from, or being a state in which there is total loss of cognitive functioning and in which only involuntary bodily functions (as breathing or blinking of the eyes) are sustained
- vegetable
ve·gete [və-'jēt] -adj
- lively, healthy
veg·gie ['ve-jē] -n
- vegetable
- vegetarian
veggie burger -n
- a patty chiefly of vegetable-derived protein used as a meat substitute
- a sandwich containing such a patty
veg out ['vej-] -vi
- to spend time idly or passively
ve·he·mence ['vē-ə-mən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being vehement : intensity
ve·he·ment ['vē-ə-mənt] -adj, adv
- : marked by forceful energy : powerful: as
- intensely emotional : impassioned, fervid
- deeply felt
- forcibly expressed
- bitterly antagonistic
ve·hi·cle ['vē-ə-kəl also 'vē-,hi-kəl] -n
- an inert medium (as a syrup) in which a medicinally active agent is administered
- any of various media acting usu. as solvents, carriers, or binders for active ingredients or pigments
- an agent of transmission : carrier
- a medium through which something is expressed, achieved, or displayed
- a work created esp. to display the talents of a particular performer
- : a means of carrying or transporting something
- planes, trains, and other vehicle s
: as - motor vehicle
- a piece of mechanized equipment
ve·hic·u·lar [vē-'hi-kyə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or designed for vehicles and esp. motor vehicles
- transported by vehicle
- caused by or resulting from the operation of a vehicle
- serving as a vehicle
veil ['vāl] -n
- a length of cloth worn by women as a covering for the head and shoulders and often esp. in Eastern countries for the face
- the outer covering of a nun's headdress
- a length of veiling or netting worn over the head or face or attached for protection or ornament to a hat or headdress
- any of various liturgical cloths
- a cloth used to cover the chalice
- the life of a nun often used in the phrase take the veil
- a concealing curtain or cover of cloth
- something that resembles a veil
- something that hides or obscures like a veil
- : a covering body part or membrane: as
- velum
- caul
- to cover, provide, obscure, or conceal with or as if with a veil
- to put on or wear a veil
veiled ['vāld] -adj
- having or wearing a veil or a concealing cover
- characterized by a softening tonal distortion
- obscured as if by a veil : disguised
veil·ing ['vā-liŋ] -n
- any of various light sheer fabrics
- veil
vein ['vān] -n, adj
- a narrow water channel in rock or earth or in ice
- lode
- a bed of useful mineral matter
- lode
- blood vessel
- any of the tubular branching vessels that carry blood from the capillaries toward the heart
- any of the vascular bundles forming the framework of a leaf
- any of the thickened cuticular ribs that serve to stiffen the wings of an insect
- something suggesting veins (as in reticulation)
- a wavy variegation (as in marble)
- a distinctive mode of expression : style
- stories in a romantic vein
- a distinctive element or quality : strain
- introduced a welcome vein of humor
- a line of thought or action
- a special aptitude
- inherited an artistic vein
- a usu. transitory and casually attained mood
- top form
- thou troublest me; I am not in the vein -- Shak.
- to pattern with or as if with veins
veined ['vānd] -adj
- patterned with or as if with veins : having venation : streaked
vein·er ['vā-nər] -n
- a small V gouge used in wood carving
vein·ing ['vā-niŋ] -n
- a pattern of veins : venation
vein·let ['vān-lət] -n
- a small vein
veiny ['vā-nē] -adj
- full of veins : noticeably veined
vel -abbr
- velocity
ve·la·men [və-'lā-mən] -n
- the thick corky epidermis of aerial roots of an epiphytic orchid that absorbs water from the atmosphere
ve·lar ['vē-lər] -adj, n
- formed with the back of the tongue touching or near the soft palate
- of, forming, or relating to a velum and esp. the soft palate
ve·lar·i·um [vi-'ler-ē-əm] -n
- an awning over an ancient Roman theater or amphitheater
ve·lar·i·za·tion [,vē-lə-rə-'zā-shən] -n
- the quality or state of being velarized
- an act or instance of velarizing
ve·lar·ize ['vē-lə-,rīz] -vt
- to modify (as the l of pul pool) by a simultaneous velar articulation
Vel·cro ['vel-(,)krō] -trademark
- used for a closure consisting of a piece of fabric of small hooks that sticks to a corresponding fabric of small loops
veld ['velt, 'felt] -n
- a grassland esp. of southern Africa usu. with scattered shrubs or trees
ve·li·ger ['vē-lə-jər, 've-] -n
- a larval mollusk in the stage when it has developed the velum
vel·le·i·ty [ve-'lē-ə-tē, və-] -n
- the lowest degree of volition
- a slight wish or tendency : inclination
vel·lum ['ve-ləm] -n
- a fine-grained unsplit lambskin, kidskin, or calfskin prepared esp. for writing on or for binding books
- a strong cream-colored paper
vellum -adj
- of, resembling, or bound in vellum
- slightly rough
- paper with a vellum finish
ve·lo·ce [vā-'lō-(,)chā] -adv or adj
- in a rapid manner used as a direction in music
ve·lo·cim·e·ter [,vē-lō-'si-mə-tər, ,ve-] -n
- a device for measuring speed (as of fluid flow or sound)
ve·loc·i·pede [və-'lä-sə-,pēd] -n
- : a lightweight wheeled vehicle propelled by the rider: as
- bicycle
- tricycle
- a 3-wheeled railroad handcar
ve·loc·i·rap·tor [və-'lä-sə-,rap-tər] -n
- any of a genus ( Velociraptor) of theropod dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous having a long head with a flat snout and a large sickle-shaped claw on the second toe of each foot
ve·loc·i·ty [və-'lä-sə-tē, -'läs-tē] -n
- quickness of motion : speed
- rapidity of movement
- my horse's strong suit is grace personal comeliness, rather than velocity -- Mark Twain
- speed imparted to something
- the power pitcher relies on velocity -- Tony Scherman
- the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time : the derivative of position with respect to time
- rate of occurrence or action : rapidity
- the velocity of historical change -- R. J. Lifton
- rate of turnover
ve·lo·drome ['vē-lə-,drōm, 've-, 'vā-] -n
- a track designed for cycling
ve·lour [və-'lu̇r] -n
- any of various fabrics with a pile or napped surface resembling velvet used in heavy weights for upholstery and curtains and in lighter weights for clothing
- the article of clothing itself
- a fur felt (as of rabbit or nutria) finished with a long velvety nap and used esp. for hats
ve·lou·te [və-,lü-'tā] -n
- a soup or sauce made of chicken, veal, or fish stock and cream and thickened with butter and flour
ve·lum ['vē-ləm] -n
- : a membrane or membranous part resembling a veil or curtain: as
- soft palate
- an annular membrane projecting inward from the margin of the umbrella in some jellyfishes (as the hydromedusae)
- a swimming organ that is esp. well developed in the later larval stages of many marine gastropods
ve·lure [ve-'lu̇r, vel-'yu̇r, 'vel-yər] -n
- velvet
- a fabric resembling velvet
vel·vet ['vel-vət] -n, adj
- a clothing and upholstery fabric (as of silk, rayon, or wool) characterized by a short soft dense warp pile
- something suggesting velvet
- a characteristic (as softness or smoothness) of velvet
- the soft vascular skin that envelops and nourishes the developing antlers of deer
- the winnings of a player in a gambling game
- a profit or gain beyond ordinary expectation
velvet -adj
- made of or covered with velvet
- clad in velvet
- resembling or suggesting velvet : velvety
velvet ant -n
- any of various solitary usu. brightly colored and hairy fossorial wasps (family Mutillidae) with the female wingless
velvet bean -n
- an annual legume ( Mucuna deeringianasyn. Stizolobium deeringianum) grown esp. in the southern U.S. for green manure and grazing
- its seed often used as stock feed
vel·ve·teen [,vel-və-'tēn] -n
- a clothing fabric usu. of cotton in twill or plain weaves made with a short close weft pile in imitation of velvet
- clothes made of velveteen
vel·vety ['vel-və-tē] -adj
- having the character of velvet as in being soft, smooth, thick, or richly hued
- smooth to the taste : mild
Ven -abbr
- venerable
ven- -comb form
- vein
ve·na ['vē-nə] -n
- vein
ve·na ca·va [,vē-nə-'kā-və] -n, adj
- any of the large veins by which in air-breathing vertebrates the blood is returned to the right atrium of the heart
ve·nal ['vē-nᵊl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration : purchasable
- open to corrupt influence and esp. bribery : mercenary
- originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery
- a venal arrangement with the police
ve·na·tion [ve-'nā-shən, vē-] -n
- an arrangement or system of veins (as in the tissue of a leaf or the wing of an insect)
vend ['vend] -vb
- to sell esp. as a hawker or peddler
- to sell by means of vending machines
- to utter publicly
- to dispose of something by sale : sell
- to engage in selling
Ven·da ['ven-də] -n
- a Bantu language spoken by a people of Northern province, Republic of South Africa
- a member of this people
vend·ee [ven-'dē] -n
- one to whom a thing is sold : buyer
ven·det·ta [ven-'de-tə] -n
- blood feud
- an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts or exchange of such acts
- waged a personal vendetta against those who opposed his nomination
ven·deuse [väⁿ-'də(r)z, vän-'düz] -n
- a saleswoman esp. in the fashion industry
vend·ible ['ven-də-bəl] -adj, n
- capable of being vended : salable
vending machine -n
- a coin-operated machine for selling merchandise
ven·dor ['ven-dər, for 1 also ven-'dȯr] -n
- one that vends : seller
- vending machine
ven·due ['ven-,dü, 'vän-, 'fen-, -,dyü; ven-', vän-'] -n
- a public sale at auction
ve·neer [və-'nir] -n
- : a thin sheet of a material: as
- a layer of wood of superior value or excellent grain to be glued to an inferior wood
- any of the thin layers bonded together to form plywood
- a plastic or porcelain coating bonded to the surface of a cosmetically imperfect tooth
- a protective or ornamental facing (as of brick or stone)
- a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, display, or effect : facade, gloss
veneer -vt, n
- to overlay or plate (as a common wood) with a thin layer of finer wood for outer finish or decoration
- to face with a material giving a superior surface
- to cover over with a veneer
- to conceal (as a defect of character) under a superficial and deceptive attractiveness
ve·neer·ing [və-'nir-iŋ] -n
- a veneered surface
- material used as veneer
ven·er·a·ble ['ve-nər(-ə)-bəl, 'ven-rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- deserving to be venerated used as a title for an Anglican archdeacon or for a Roman Catholic who has been accorded the lowest of three degrees of recognition for sanctity
- made sacred esp. by religious or historical association
- calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments
- a venerable jazz musician
- conveying an impression of aged goodness and benevolence
- encouraged by the venerable doctor's head-nodding
- impressive by reason of age
ven·er·ate ['ve-nə-,rāt] -vt, n
- to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference
- to honor (as an icon or a relic) with a ritual act of devotion
ven·er·a·tion [,ve-nə-'rā-shən] -n
- respect or awe inspired by the dignity, wisdom, dedication, or talent of a person
- the act of venerating
- the condition of one that is venerated
ve·ne·re·al [və-'nir-ē-əl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to sexual pleasure or indulgence
- resulting from or contracted during sexual intercourse
- of, relating to, or affected with venereal disease
- involving the genital organs
venereal disease -n
- a contagious disease (as gonorrhea or syphilis) that is typically acquired in sexual intercourse
ven·ery ['ve-nə-rē] -n
- the art, act, or practice of hunting
- animals that are hunted : game
venery -n
- the pursuit of or indulgence in sexual pleasure
- sexual intercourse
ve·ne·sec·tion ['ve-nə-,sek-shən, 'vē-] -n
- phlebotomy
Ven·e·ti ['ve-nə-,tī] -n pl
- an ancient people in Gaul conquered by Julius Caesar in 56 b.c.
- an ancient people in northeastern Italy allied politically to the Romans
ve·ne·tian blind [və-'nē-shən-] -n
- a blind (as for a window) having numerous horizontal slats that may be set simultaneously at any of several angles so as to vary the amount of light admitted
venetian glass -n
- often colored glassware made at Murano near Venice of a soda-lime metal and typically elaborately decorated (as with gilt, enamel, or engraving)
Venetian red -n
- an earthy hematite used as a pigment
- a synthetic iron oxide pigment
Ve·net·ic [və-'ne-tik] -n, adj
- the language of the ancient Veneti of Italy
venge ['venj] -vt
- avenge
ven·geance ['ven-jən(t)s] -n
- punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense : retribution
venge·ful ['venj-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- : revengeful: as
- seeking to avenge
- serving to gain vengeance
Ven·gine ['vē-] -n
- an internal combustion engine whose cylinders are arranged in two banks forming an acute or right angle
ve·nial ['vē-nē-əl, -nyəl] -adj, adv, n
- of a kind that can be remitted : forgivable, pardonable
- meriting no particular censure or notice : excusable
venial sin -n
- a sin that is relatively slight or that is committed without full reflection or consent and so according to Thomist theology does not deprive the soul of sanctifying grace
- a minor offense
ve·ni·punc·ture ['vē-nə-,pəŋ(k)-chər, 've-] -n
- surgical puncture of a vein esp. for the withdrawal of blood or for intravenous medication
ve·ni·re [və-'nī-rē] -n
- an entire panel from which a jury is drawn
ve·ni·re fa·ci·as [-,nī-rē-'fā-shē-əs] -n
- a judicial writ directing the sheriff to summon a specified number of qualified persons to serve as jurors
ve·ni·re·man [və-'nī-rē-mən, -'nir-ē-] -n
- a member of a venire
ven·i·son ['ve-nə-sən also -zən, Brit usu 'ven-zən] -n
- the edible flesh of a game animal and esp. a deer
Ve·ni·te [və-'nī-tē, -'nē-,tā] -n
- a liturgical chant composed of parts of Psalms 95 and 96
Venn diagram ['ven-] -n
- a graph that employs closed curves and esp. circles to represent logical relations between and operations on sets and the terms of propositions by the inclusion, exclusion, or intersection of the curves
ve·nog·ra·phy [vi-'nä-grə-fē, vā-] -n
- radiography of a vein after injection of an opaque substance
ven·om ['ve-nəm] -n
- poisonous matter normally secreted by some animals (as snakes, scorpions, or bees) and transmitted to prey or an enemy chiefly by biting or stinging
- material that is poisonous
- ill will, malevolence
venom -vt
- envenom
ven·om·ous ['ve-nə-məs] -adj, adv, n
- : full of venom: as
- poisonous, envenomed
- noxious, pernicious
- expose a venomous dope ring -- Don Porter
- spiteful, malevolent
- having a venom-producing gland and able to inflict a poisoned wound
ve·nous ['vē-nəs] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or full of veins
- having passed through the capillaries and given up oxygen for the tissues and become charged with carbon dioxide
vent ['vent] -vb
- to provide with a vent
- to serve as a vent for
- discharge, expel
- to give often vigorous or emotional expression to
- vent ed her frustration on her coworkers
- to relieve by means of a vent
- vent ed himself in a fiery letter to the editor
- to relieve oneself by venting something (as anger)
- comes home from work and vent s to the kids
- : an opening for the escape of a gas or liquid or for the relief of pressure: as
- the external opening of the rectum or cloaca : anus
- pipe , fumarole
- hydrothermal vent
- an opening at the breech of a muzzle-loading gun through which fire is touched to the powder
- chimney, flue
- an opportunity or means of escape, passage, or release : outlet
- finally gave vent to his pent-up hostility
- a slit in a garment
- an opening in the lower part of a seam (as of a jacket or skirt)
vent·age ['ven-tij] -n
- a small hole (as a flute stop)
ven·tail ['ven-,tāl] -n
- the lower movable front of a medieval helmet
ven·ter ['ven-tər] -n
- a wife or mother that is a source of offspring
- : a protuberant and often hollow anatomical structure: as
- the undersurface of the abdomen of an arthropod
- the swollen basal portion of an archegonium in which an egg develops
ven·ti·fact ['ven-tə-,fakt] -n
- a stone worn, polished, or faceted by windblown sand
ven·ti·late ['ven-tə-,lāt] -vt
- to examine, discuss, or investigate freely and openly : expose
- ventilating family quarrels in public
- to make public : utter
- ventilated their objections at length
- to free from chaff by winnowing
- to expose to air and esp. to a current of fresh air for purifying, curing, or refreshing
- oxygenate, aerate
- ventilate blood in the lungs
- to subject the lungs to ventilation
- artificially ventilate a patient in respiratory distress
- to pass or circulate through so as to freshen
- to cause fresh air to circulate through (as a room or mine)
- to provide an opening in (a burning structure) to permit escape of smoke and heat
ven·ti·la·tion [,ven-tə-'lā-shən] -n
- the act or process of ventilating
- circulation of air
- a room with good ventilation
- the circulation and exchange of gases in the lungs or gills that is basic to respiration
- a system or means of providing fresh air
ven·ti·la·tor ['ven-tə-,lā-tər] -n
- : one that ventilates: as
- a contrivance for introducing fresh air or expelling foul or stagnant air
- respirator
ven·ti·la·to·ry ['ven-tə-lə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- of, relating to, or provided with ventilation
- ventilatory capacity of the lung
ventr- -comb form
- ventral and
ven·tral ['ven-trəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the belly : abdominal
- being or located near or on the anterior or lower surface of an animal opposite the back
- being or located on the lower surface of a dorsiventral plant structure
ventral -n
- a ventral part (as a scale or fin)
ventral root -n
- the one of the two roots of a spinal nerve that passes ventrally from the spinal cord and consists of motor fibers
ven·tri·cle ['ven-tri-kəl] -n
- : a cavity of a bodily part or organ: as
- a chamber of the heart which receives blood from a corresponding atrium and from which blood is forced into the arteries
- any of a system of communicating cavities in the brain that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord
ven·tri·cose [-,kōs] -adj
- markedly swollen, distended, or inflated esp. on one side
ven·tric·u·lar [ven-'tri-kyə-lər, vən-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a ventricle
ventricular assist device -n
- a device implanted in the chest or upper abdomen to assist a damaged or weakened heart in pumping blood
ven·tric·u·lus [ven-'tri-kyə-ləs, vən-] -n
- : a digestive cavity (as a gizzard or stomach)
ven·tril·o·quism [ven-'tri-lə-,kwi-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- the production of the voice in such a way that the sound seems to come from a source other than the vocal organs of the speaker
- the expression of one's views and attitudes through another
- such expression by a writer through a fictional character or literary persona
ven·tril·o·quist [ven-'tri-lə-kwist] -n, adj
- one who uses or is skilled in ventriloquism
- one who provides entertainment by using ventriloquism to carry on an apparent conversation with a hand-manipulated dummy
ven·tril·o·quize [ven-'tri-lə-,kwīz] -vb
- to use ventriloquism
- to utter in the manner of a ventriloquist
ven·tril·o·quy [-kwē] -n
- ventriloquism
ven·tro·lat·er·al [,ven-,trō-'la-tə-rəl, -'la-trəl] -adj
- ventral and lateral
ven·tro·me·di·al [-'mē-dē-əl] -adj
- ventral and medial
ven·ture ['ven(t)-shər] -vb, n
- to expose to hazard : risk, gamble
- ventured a buck or two on the race
- to undertake the risks and dangers of : brave
- to offer at the risk of rebuff, rejection, or censure
- to proceed esp. in the face of danger
venture -n
- destiny, fortune, chance
- an undertaking involving chance, risk, or danger
- a speculative business enterprise
- a venturesome act
- something (as money or property) at stake in a speculative venture
venture capital -n
- capital (as retained corporate earnings or individual savings) invested or available for investment in the ownership element of new or fresh enterprise called also risk capital
ven·ture·some ['ven(t)-shər-səm] -adj, adv, n
- involving risk : hazardous
- inclined to court or incur risk or danger : daring
ven·tu·ri [ven-'tu̇r-ē] -n
- a short tube with a tapering constriction in the middle that causes an increase in the velocity of flow of a fluid and a corresponding decrease in fluid pressure and that is used esp. in measuring fluid flow or for creating a suction (as for driving aircraft instruments or drawing fuel into the flow stream of a carburetor)
ven·tur·ous ['ven(t)-sh(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n
- venturesome
ven·ue ['ven-,yü] -n
- the place from which a jury is drawn and in which trial is held
- requested a change of venue
- the place or county in which take place the alleged events from which a legal action arises
- a statement showing that a case is brought to the proper court or authority
- locale
- a place where events of a specific type are held
- outlet
ve·nule ['vēn-(,)yül, 'ven-] -n
- a small vein
- any of the minute veins connecting the capillaries with the larger systemic veins
Ve·nus ['vē-nəs] -n
- the Roman goddess of love and beauty
- the planet second in order from the sun
Ve·nus·berg [-,bərg] -n
- a mountain in central Germany containing a cavern where in medieval legend Venus held court
Venus fly·trap [-'flī-,trap] -n
- an insectivorous plant ( Dionaea muscipula) of the sundew family of the Carolina coast with the leaf apex modified into an insect trap called also Venus's-flytrap
Ve·nushair [-,her] -n
- a delicate maidenhair fern ( Adiantum capillus-veneris) that grows chiefly on wet calcareous rocks
Ve·nu·sian [vi-'nü-zhən, -'nyü-] -adj
- of or relating to the planet Venus
Ve·nus's flow·erbas·ket ['vē-nə-səz-, 'vē-nəs-] -n
- any of several glass sponges (genus Euplectella) of the western Pacific and Indian oceans called also Venus flower basket
ve·ra·cious [və-'rā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- truthful, honest
- marked by truth : accurate
ve·rac·i·ty [və-'ra-sə-tē] -n
- devotion to the truth : truthfulness
- power of conveying or perceiving truth
- conformity with truth or fact : accuracy
- something true
- makes lies sound like veracities
ve·ran·da [və-'ran-də] -n
- a usu. roofed open gallery or portico attached to the exterior of a building
ve·ran·daed [-dəd] -adj
- having a veranda
ve·rap·a·mil [və-'ra-pə-,mil] -n
- a calcium channel blocker C 27H 38N 2O 4used esp. in the form of its hydrochloride
ve·rat·ri·dine [və-'ra-trə-,dēn] -n
- a poisonous alkaloid C 36H 51NO 11occurring esp. in sabadilla seed
ve·ra·trine ['ver-ə-,trēn, və-'ra-trən] -n
- a poisonous irritant mixture of alkaloids from sabadilla seed that has been used as a counterirritant and insecticide
ve·ra·trum [və-'rā-trəm] -n
- hellebore
verb ['vərb] -n, adj
- a word that characteristically is the grammatical center of a predicate and expresses an act, occurrence, or mode of being, that in various languages is inflected for agreement with the subject, for tense, for voice, for mood, or for aspect, and that typically has rather full descriptive meaning and characterizing quality but is sometimes nearly devoid of these esp. when used as an auxiliary or linking verb
ver·bal ['vər-bəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or consisting of words
- of, relating to, or involving words rather than meaning or substance
- a consistency that is merely verbal and scholastic -- B. N. Cardozo
- consisting of or using words only and not involving action
- of, relating to, or formed from a verb
- spoken rather than written
- verbatim, word-for-word
- of or relating to facility in the use and comprehension of words
verbal -n
- a word that combines characteristics of a verb with those of a noun or adjective
verbal auxiliary -n
- an auxiliary verb
ver·bal·ism ['vər-bə-,li-zəm] -n
- a verbal expression : term
- phrasing, wording
- words used as if they were more important than the realities they represent
- the emancipation of science from verbalism -- G. A. L. Sarton
- a wordy expression of little meaning
- verbosity
ver·bal·ist [-list] -n, adj
- one who stresses words above substance or reality
- a person who uses words skillfully
ver·bal·ize ['vər-bə-,līz] -vb, n
- to speak or write verbosely
- to express something in words
- to convert into a verb
- to name or express in words
verbal noun -n
- a noun derived directly from a verb or verb stem and in some uses having the sense and constructions of a verb
ver·ba·tim [(,)vər-'bā-təm] -adv
- in the exact words : word for word
verbatim -adj
- being in or following the exact words : word-for-word
ver·be·na [(,)vər-'bē-nə] -n
- vervain
- any of numerous garden vervains of hybrid origin widely grown for their showy spikes of white, pink, red, or blue flowers which are borne in profusion over a long season
ver·biage ['vər-bē-ij also -bij] -n
- a profusion of words usu. of little or obscure content
- such a tangled maze of evasive verbiage as a typical party platform -- Marcia Davenport
- manner of expressing oneself in words : diction
- sportswriters guarded their verbiage so jealously -- R. A. Sokolov
ver·bi·cide ['vər-bə-,sīd] -n
- deliberate distortion of the sense of a word (as in punning)
- one who distorts the sense of a word
ver·bid ['vər-bəd] -n
- verbal
ver·big·er·a·tion [(,)vər-,bi-jə-'rā-shən] -n
- continual repetition of stereotyped phrases (as in some forms of mental illness)
ver·bose [(,)vər-'bōs] -adj, adv, n
- containing more words than necessary : wordy
- impaired by wordiness
- given to wordiness
ver·bo·ten [vər-'bō-tᵊn, fər-, ver-] -adj
- forbidden
- prohibited by dictate
verb sap ['vərb-'sap]
- verbum sap
ver·bum sap [,vər-bəm-'sap]
- enough said used to indicate that something left unsaid may or should be inferred
ver·dant ['vər-dᵊnt] -adj, n, adv
- green in tint or color
- green with growing plants
- unripe in experience or judgment : green
verd an·tique [,vərd-,an-'tēk] -n
- a green mottled or veined serpentine marble or calcareous serpentine much used for indoor decoration esp. by the ancient Romans
ver·der·er ['vər-dər-ər] -n
- a onetime English judicial officer in charge of the king's forest
ver·dict ['vər-(,)dikt] -n
- the finding or decision of a jury on the matter submitted to it in trial
- opinion, judgment
ver·di·gris ['vər-də-,grēs, -,gris, -grəs also -,grē] -n
- a green or greenish-blue poisonous pigment resulting from the action of acetic acid on copper and consisting of one or more basic copper acetates
- normal copper acetate Cu(C 2H 3O 2) 2H 2O
- a green or bluish deposit esp. of copper carbonates formed on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces
ver·din ['vər-dᵊn] -n
- a very small yellow-headed bird ( Auriparus flaviceps) of arid scrublands that is related to the chickadee and is found from Texas to California and southward to Mexico
ver·dure ['vər-jər also -dyər] -n, adj
- the greenness of growing vegetation
- such vegetation itself
- a condition of health and vigor
ver·dured ['vər-jərd also -dyərd] -adj
- covered with verdure
verge ['vərj] -n
- a rod or staff carried as an emblem of authority or symbol of office
- a stick or wand held by a person being admitted to tenancy while he swears fealty
- the spindle of a watch balance
- a spindle with pallets in an old vertical escapement
- the male copulatory organ of any of various invertebrates
- : something that borders, limits, or bounds: as
- an outer margin of an object or structural part
- the edge of roof covering (as tiling) projecting over the gable of a roof
- a paved or planted strip of land at the edge of a road : shoulder
- brink, threshold
- a country on the verge of destruction -- Archibald MacLeish
- to be contiguous
- to be on the verge or border
- the line where sentiment verge s on mawkishness -- Thomas Hardy
- to move or tend toward the horizon : sink
- to move or extend in some direction or toward some condition
- verging to a hasty decline -- Edward Gibbon
- to be in transition or change
verg·er ['vər-jər] -n
- an attendant that carries a verge (as before a bishop or justice)
- a church official who keeps order during services or serves as an usher or a sacristan
ve·rid·i·cal [və-'ri-di-kəl] -adj, n, adv
- truthful, veracious
- tried...to supply...a veridical background to the events and people portrayed -- Laura Krey
- not illusory : genuine
- it is assumed that...perception is veridical -- George Lakoff
ver·i·fi·able [,ver-ə-'fī-ə-bəl] -adj, n
- capable of being verified
ver·i·fi·ca·tion [,ver-ə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- the act or process of verifying : the state of being verified
ver·i·fy ['ver-ə-,fī] -vt, n
- to confirm or substantiate in law by oath
- to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of
ver·i·ly ['ver-ə-lē] -adv
- in truth : certainly
- truly, confidently
veri·sim·i·lar [,ver-ə-'si-mə-lər, -'sim-lər] -adj, adv
- having the appearance of truth : probable
- depicting realism (as in art or literature)
veri·si·mil·i·tude [-sə-'mi-lə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n, adj
- the quality or state of being verisimilar
- something verisimilar
ve·rism ['vir-,i-zəm, 'ver-] -n, n or adj, adj
- artistic use of contemporary everyday material in preference to the heroic or legendary esp. in grand opera
ve·ris·mo [vā-'rēz-(,)mō] -n
- verism
- realism
ver·i·ta·ble ['ver-ə-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary often used to stress the aptness of a metaphor
- a veritable mountain of references
ve·ri·te [,ver-ə-'tā] -n
- the art or technique of filming (as a motion picture) so as to convey candid realism
ver·i·ty ['ver-ə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being true or real
- something (as a statement) that is true
- a fundamental and inevitably true value
- such eternal verities as honor, love, and patriotism
- the quality or state of being truthful or honest
- the king-becoming graces, as justice, verity -- Shak.
ver·juice ['vər-,jüs] -n
- the sour juice of crab apples or of unripe fruit (as grapes or apples)
- an acid liquor made from verjuice
- acidity of disposition or manner
ver·meil -n, adj
- vermilion
- gilded silver
vermi- -comb form
- worm
ver·mi·cel·li [,vər-mə-'che-lē, -'se-] -n
- pasta made in long solid strings smaller in diameter than spaghetti
ver·mi·cide ['vər-mə-,sīd] -n
- an agent that destroys worms
ver·mic·u·lar [(,)vər-'mi-kyə-lər] -adj
- resembling a worm in form or motion
- vermiculate
- of, relating to, or caused by worms
ver·mic·u·late [-lət] -adj, n
- tortuous, involute
- full of worms : worm-eaten
- vermiform
- marked with irregular fine lines or with wavy impressed lines
ver·mic·u·lite [(,)vər-'mi-kyə-,līt] -n
- any of various micaceous minerals that are hydrous silicates resulting usu. from expansion of the granules of mica at high temperatures to give a lightweight highly water-absorbent material
ver·mi·cul·ture ['vər-mə-,kəl-chər] -n
- the cultivation of annelid worms (as earthworms or bloodworms) esp. for use as bait or in composting
ver·mi·form ['vər-mə-,fȯrm] -adj
- resembling a worm in shape
vermiform appendix -n
- a narrow blind tube usu. about three to four inches (8 to 10 centimeters) long that extends from the cecum in the lower right-hand part of the abdomen
ver·mi·fuge ['vər-mə-,fyüj] -n
- an agent that destroys or expels parasitic worms : anthelmintic
ver·mil·ion [vər-'mil-yən] -n
- a bright red pigment consisting of mercuric sulfide
- any of various red pigments
- a vivid reddish orange
ver·min ['vər-mən] -n
- small common harmful or objectionable animals (as lice or fleas) that are difficult to control
- birds and mammals that prey on game
- animals that at a particular time and place compete (as for food) with humans or domestic animals
- an offensive person
ver·min·ous ['vər-mə-nəs] -adj
- consisting of or being vermin : noxious
- forming a breeding place for or infested by vermin : filthy
- caused by vermin
ver·mis ['vər-mis] -n
- the constricted median lobe of the cerebellum that connects the two lateral lobes
ver·mouth [vər-'müth] -n
- a dry or sweet aperitif wine flavored with aromatic herbs and often used in mixed drinks
ver·nac·u·lar [və(r)-'na-kyə-lər] -adj, adv
- using a language or dialect native to a region or country rather than a literary, cultured, or foreign language
- of, relating to, or being a nonstandard language or dialect of a place, region, or country
- of, relating to, or being the normal spoken form of a language
- applied to a plant or animal in the common native speech as distinguished from the Latin nomenclature of scientific classification
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a period, place, or group
- of, relating to, or being the common building style of a period or place
vernacular -n
- a vernacular language, expression, or mode of expression
- the mode of expression of a group or class
- a vernacular name of a plant or animal
ver·nac·u·lar·ism [və(r)-'na-kyə-lə-,ri-zəm] -n
- a vernacular word or idiom
ver·nal ['vər-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or occurring in the spring
- fresh or new like the spring
- youthful
ver·nal·i·za·tion [,vər-nə-lə-'zā-shən] -n, vt
- the act or process of hastening the flowering and fruiting of plants by treating seeds, bulbs, or seedlings so as to induce a shortening of the vegetative period
ver·na·tion [(,)vər-'nā-shən] -n
- the arrangement of foliage leaves within the bud
Ver·ner's law ['ver-nərz-] -n
- a statement in historical linguistics: in medial or final position in voiced environments and when the immediately preceding vowel did not bear the principal accent in Proto-Indo-European, the Proto-Germanic voiceless fricatives f,, and derived from the Proto-Indo-European voiceless stops p, t,and kand the Proto-Germanic voiceless fricative sderived from Proto-Indo-European sbecame the voiced fricatives , , , and zrepresented in various recorded Germanic languages by b, d, g,and r
ver·ni·cle ['vər-ni-kəl] -n
- veronica
ver·ni·er ['vər-nē-ər] -n
- a short scale made to slide along the divisions of a graduated instrument for indicating parts of divisions
- a small auxiliary device used with a main device to obtain fine adjustment
- any of two or more small supplementary rocket engines or gas nozzles on a missile or a rocket vehicle for making fine adjustments in the speed or course or controlling the attitude called also vernier engine
vernier -adj
- having or comprising a vernier
vernier caliper -n
- a measuring device that consists of a main scale with a fixed jaw and a sliding jaw with an attached vernier
ver·nis·sage [,ver-ni-'säzh] -n
- a private showing or preview of an art exhibition
ve·ron·i·ca [və-'rä-ni-kə] -n
- any of a genus ( Veronica) of annual or perennial herbs of the snapdragon family that have small pink, white, blue or purple flowers with a 4- or 5-lobed calyx, a rotate corolla, two stamens, and the fruit a compressed capsule
veronica -n
- an image of Christ's face said to have been impressed on the cloth that St. Veronica gave him to wipe his face with on the way to his crucifixion
- a cloth resembling the legendary one of St. Veronica
- a pase in bullfighting in which the cape is swung slowly away from the charging bull while the matador keeps his feet in the same position
Ve·ro·nique [,vā-rȯ-'nēk] -adj
- prepared or garnished with usu. white seedless grapes
ver·ru·ca [və-'rü-kə] -n
- a wart or warty skin lesion
- a warty elevation on a plant or animal surface
ver·ru·cas [və-'rü-kə] -n
(variant of verruca)
- a wart or warty skin lesion
- a warty elevation on a plant or animal surface
verruca vul·ga·ris [-,vəl-'ger-əs] -n
- wart
- one occurring on the back of the fingers and hands
ver·ru·cose [və-'rü-,kōs] -adj
- covered with warty elevations
ver·sal ['vər-səl, 'vär-] -adj
- entire, whole
- as pale as any clout in the versal world -- Shak.
ver·sant ['vər-sᵊnt] -adj
- experienced, practiced
- conversant
ver·sa·tile ['vər-sə-tᵊl, esp Brit -,tī(-ə)l] -adj, adv, n
- changing or fluctuating readily : variable
- embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills
- turning with ease from one thing to another
- capable of turning forward or backward : reversible
- a versatile toe of a bird
- capable of moving laterally and up and down
- having the filaments attached at or near the middle so as to swing freely
- having many uses or applications
- versatile building material
ver·sa·til·i·ty [,vər-sə-'ti-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being versatile
- a writer of great versatility
vers de so·ci·e·te [,ver-də-,sō-sē-ə-'tā] -n
- witty and typically ironic light verse
verse ['vərs] -n
- a line of metrical writing
- metrical language
- metrical writing distinguished from poetry esp. by its lower level of intensity
- poetry
- poem
- a body of metrical writing (as of a period or country)
- stanza
- one of the short divisions into which a chapter of the Bible is traditionally divided
- to make verse : versify
- to tell or celebrate in verse
- to turn into verse
- to familiarize by close association, study, or experience
- well versed in the theater
vers·et ['vər-sət, -,set; ,vər-'set] -n
- a short verse esp. from a sacred book (as the Koran)
ver·si·cle ['vər-si-kəl] -n
- a short verse or sentence (as from a psalm) said or sung by a leader in public worship and followed by a response from the people
- a little verse
ver·sic·u·lar [,vər-'si-kyə-lər] -adj
- of or relating to verses or versicles
ver·si·fi·ca·tion [,vər-sə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- the making of verses
- metrical structure : prosody
- a particular metrical structure or style
- a version in verse of something orig. in prose
ver·si·fi·er ['vər-sə-,fī(-ə)r] -n
- one that versifies
- a writer of light or inferior verse
ver·si·fy [-,fī] -vb
- to compose verses
- to relate or describe in verse
- to turn into verse
ver·sion ['vər-zhən, -shən] -n, adj
- a translation from another language
- a translation of the Bible or a part of it
- an account or description from a particular point of view esp. as contrasted with another account
- an adaptation of a literary work
- the movie version of the novel
- an arrangement of a musical composition
- a form or variant of a type or original
- an experimental version of the airplane
- a condition in which an organ and esp. the uterus is turned from its normal position
- manual turning of a fetus in the uterus to aid delivery
vers li·bre [ver-'lēbrᵊ] -n
- free verse
versli·brist [-'lē-brist] -n
- a writer of free verse
ver·so ['vər-(,)sō] -n
- the side of a leaf (as of a manuscript) that is to be read second
- a left-hand page
verst ['vərst] -n
- a Russian unit of distance equal to 0.6629 mile (1.067 kilometers)
ver·sus ['vər-səs, -səz] -prep
- against
- in contrast to or as the alternative of
- free trade versus protection
vert ['vərt] -n
- green forest vegetation esp. when forming cover or providing food for deer
- the right or privilege (as in England) of cutting living wood or sometimes of pasturing animals in a forest
- the heraldic color green
- vertical
ver·te·bra ['vər-tə-brə, -,brā] -n
- one of the bony or cartilaginous segments composing the spinal column, consisting in some lower vertebrates of several distinct elements which never become united, and in higher vertebrates having a short more or less cylindrical body whose ends articulate by pads of elastic or cartilaginous tissue with those of adjacent vertebrae and a bony arch that encloses the spinal cord
ver·te·bral [(,)vər-'tē-brəl, 'vər-tə-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being vertebrae or the vertebral column : spinal
vertebral canal -n
- a canal that contains the spinal cord and is delimited by the arches on the dorsal side of the vertebrae called also spinal canal
vertebral column -n
- spinal column
ver·te·brate ['vər-tə-brət, -,brāt] -adj
- having a spinal column
- of or relating to the vertebrates
- organized or constructed in orderly or developed form
vertebrate -n
- any of a subphylum (Vertebrata) of chordates possessing a spinal column that includes the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes
ver·tex ['vər-,teks] -n
- the top of the head
- the point opposite to and farthest from the base in a figure
- a point (as of an angle, polygon, polyhedron, graph, or network) that terminates a line or curve or comprises the intersection of two or more lines or curves
- a point where an axis of an ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola intersects the curve itself
- a principal or highest point : summit
ver·ti·cal ['vər-ti-kəl] -adj, n, adv
- situated at the highest point : directly overhead or in the zenith
- taken with the camera pointing straight down or nearly so
- perpendicular to the plane of the horizon or to a primary axis : upright
- located at right angles to the plane of a supporting surface
- lying in the direction of an axis : lengthwise
- relating to, involving, or integrating economic activity from basic production to point of sale
- of, relating to, or comprising persons of different status
- the vertical arrangement of society
vertical angle -n
- either of two angles lying on opposite sides of two intersecting lines
vertical circle -n
- a great circle of the celestial sphere whose plane is perpendicular to that of the horizon
vertical file -n
- a collection of articles (as pamphlets and clippings) that is maintained (as in a library) to answer brief questions or to provide points of information not easily located
vertical union -n
- industrial union
ver·ti·cil ['vər-tə-,sil] -n
- whorl
ver·ti·cil·late [,vər-tə-'si-lət] -adj
- arranged in whorls
ver·ti·cil·li·um wilt [,vər-tə-'si-lē-əm-] -n
- a wilt disease of various plants that is caused by a soil-borne imperfect fungus (genus Verticillium)
ver·tig·i·nous [(,)vər-'ti-jə-nəs] -adj, adv
- characterized by or suffering from vertigo or dizziness
- inclined to frequent and often pointless change : inconstant
- causing or tending to cause dizziness
- marked by turning : rotary
- the vertiginous motion of the earth
ver·ti·go ['vər-ti-,gō] -n
- a sensation of motion in which the individual or the individual's surroundings seem to whirl dizzily
- a dizzy confused state of mind
- disordered vertiginous movement as a symptom of disease in lower animals
- a disease (as gid) causing this
vertu [,vər-'tü, ,vir-] -n
(variant of virtu)
- a love of or taste for curios or objets d'art
- productions of art esp. of a curious or antique nature : objets d'art
ver·vain ['vər-,vān] -n
- any of a genus ( Verbenaof the family Verbenaceae, the vervain family) of chiefly American plants having bracted spicate flowers, a corolla with a 5-lobed limb, and a fruit that separates into four nutlets
verve ['vərv] -n
- special ability or talent
- the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance : vivacity
- energy, vitality
ver·vet ['vər-vət] -n
- green monkey
very ['ver-ē, 've-rē] -adj
- properly entitled to the name or designation : true
- the fierce hatred of a very woman -- J. M. Barrie
- actual, real
- the very blood and bone of our grammar -- H. L. Smith 1972
- simple, plain
- exact, precise
- the very heart of the city
- exactly suitable or necessary
- the very thing for the purpose
- absolute, utter
- unqualified, sheer
- used as an intensive esp. to emphasize identity
- mere, bare
- the very thought terrified him
- being the same one : selfsame
- special, particular
- the very essence of truth is plainness and brightness -- John Milton
- in actual fact : truly
- the very best store in town
- to a high degree : exceedingly
very hard -adj
- suitable chiefly for grating
very high frequency -n
- a radio frequency between ultrahigh frequency and high frequency
Ve·ry light ['ver-ē-, 'vir-ē-] -n
- a pyrotechnic signal in a system of signaling using white or colored balls of fire projected from a special pistol
very lowdensity lipoprotein -n
- vldl
very low frequency -n
- a radio frequency between low frequency and voice frequency
Ve·ry pistol ['ver-ē-, 'vir-ē-] -n
- a pistol for firing Very lights
Very Reverend ['ver-ē-, 've-rē-]
- used as a title for various ecclesiastical officials (as cathedral deans and canons, rectors of Roman Catholic colleges and seminaries, and superiors of some religious houses)
ves·i·cal ['ve-si-kəl] -adj
- of or relating to the urinary bladder
ves·i·cant ['ve-si-kənt] -n, adj
- an agent (as a chemical weapon) that induces blistering
ves·i·cle ['ve-si-kəl] -n
- a membranous and usu. fluid-filled pouch (as a cyst, vacuole, or cell) in a plant or animal
- a small abnormal elevation of the outer layer of skin enclosing a watery liquid : blister
- a pocket of embryonic tissue that is the beginning of an organ
- a small cavity in a mineral or rock
ve·sic·u·lar [və-'si-kyə-lər, ve-] -adj, n
- containing, composed of, or characterized by vesicles
- having the form or structure of a vesicle
- of or relating to vesicles
vesicular stomatitis -n
- an acute viral disease esp. of various domesticated animals (as horses and cows) that resembles foot-and-mouth disease, is marked by erosive blisters in and about the mouth, and is caused by any of three rhabdoviruses (species Vesicular stomatitis Alagoas virus, Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus,and Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virusof the genus Vesiculovirus) which sometimes infect humans producing flu-like symptoms
ve·sic·u·late [və-'si-kyə-,lāt, ve-] -vb, n
- to make vesicular
- to become vesicular
ves·per ['ves-pər] -n
- evening star
- a vesper bell
- evening, eventide
vesper -adj
- of or relating to vespers or the evening
ves·per·al ['ves-p(ə-)rəl] -adj
- vesper
ves·pers ['ves-pərz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- the sixth of the canonical hours that is said or sung in the late afternoon
- a service of evening worship
ves·per·til·ian [,ves-pər-'ti-lē-ən, -'til-yən] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling a bat
- flaunts vespertilian wing and cloven hoof -- Robert Graves
ves·per·tine ['ves-pər-,tīn] -adj
- of, relating to, or occurring in the evening
- active, flowering, or flourishing in the evening : crepuscular
ves·pid ['ves-pəd] -n, adj
- any of a cosmopolitan family (Vespidae) of chiefly social wasps that usu. live in colonies like bees
ves·pine ['ves-,pīn] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling wasps and esp. vespid wasps
ves·sel ['ve-səl] -n
- a container (as a cask, bottle, kettle, cup, or bowl) for holding something
- a person into whom some quality (as grace) is infused
- a child of light, a true vessel of the Lord -- H. J. Laski
- a watercraft bigger than a rowboat
- ship
- a tube or canal (as an artery) in which a body fluid is contained and conveyed or circulated
- a conducting tube in the xylem of a vascular plant formed by the fusion and loss of end walls of a series of cells
vest ['vest] -vb
- to place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority
- to give to a person a legally fixed immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (as an estate)
- to grant or endow with a particular authority, right, or property
- the plan vest s workers with pension benefits after 10 years of service
- to clothe with or as if with a garment
- to robe in ecclesiastical vestments
- to become legally vested
- to put on garments or vestments
- a loose outer garment : robe
- clothing, garb
- a sleeveless garment for the upper body usu. worn over a shirt
- a protective usu. sleeveless garment (as a life preserver) that extends to the waist
- an insulated sleeveless waist-length garment often worn under or in place of a coat
- a man's sleeveless undershirt
- a knitted undershirt for women
- a plain or decorative piece used to fill in the front neckline of a woman's outer garment (as a blouse or dress)
ves·ta ['ves-tə] -n
- the Roman goddess of the hearth
- a short match with a shank of wax-coated threads
- a short wooden match
ves·tal ['ves-tᵊl] -adj
- of or relating to the Roman goddess Vesta
- of or relating to a vestal virgin
- chaste
vestal -n
- vestal virgin
vestal virgin -n
- a virgin consecrated to the Roman goddess Vesta and to the service of watching the sacred fire perpetually kept burning on her altar
- a chaste woman
vest·ed ['ves-təd] -adj
- fully and unconditionally guaranteed as a legal right, benefit, or privilege
- the vested benefits of the pension plan
- having a vest
vested interest -n
- an interest (as a title to an estate) carrying a legal right of present or future enjoyment
- a right vested in an employee under a pension plan
- a special concern or stake in maintaining or influencing a condition, arrangement, or action esp. for selfish ends
- one having a vested interest in something
- a group enjoying benefits from an existing economic or political privilege
vest·ee [ve-'stē] -n
- dickey
- one made to resemble a vest
- vest
ves·ti·ary ['ves-tē-,er-ē, 'vesh-chē-] -n
- a room where clothing is kept
- clothing, raiment
ves·tib·u·lar [ve-'sti-byə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or functioning as a vestibule
- of, relating to, or affecting the perception of body position and movement
- the vestibular system of the inner ear
ves·ti·bule ['ves-tə-,byül] -n, adj
- a passage, hall, or room between the outer door and the interior of a building : lobby
- an enclosed entrance at the end of a railway passenger car
- : any of various bodily cavities esp. when serving as or resembling an entrance to some other cavity or space: as
- the central cavity of the bony labyrinth of the inner ear or the parts (as the saccule and utricle) of the membranous labyrinth that it contains
- the part of the left ventricle below the aortic orifice
- the space between the labia minora containing the orifice of the urethra
- the part of the mouth cavity outside the teeth and gums
- a course that offers access (as to something new)
vestibule school -n
- a school organized in an industrial plant to train new workers in specific skills
ves·tib·u·lo·co·chle·ar nerve [ve-,sti-byə-lō-'kō-klē-ər-, -'kä-] -n
- auditory nerve
ves·tige ['ves-tij] -n, adj, adv
- a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (as an ancient city or a condition or practice) vanished or lost
- the smallest quantity or trace
- footprint
- a bodily part or organ that is small and degenerate or imperfectly developed in comparison to one more fully developed in an earlier stage of the individual, in a past generation, or in closely related forms
ves·ti·men·tif·er·an [,ves-tə-,men-'ti-f(ə-)rən] -n, adj
- any of a taxonomic group (Vestimentifera) of very large tube worms that may grow to 9 feet (3 meters) in length and more than an inch (3 centimeters) in diameter, are found esp. near deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and are considered pogonophorans or a separate phylum or polychaetes
vest·ing ['ves-tiŋ] -n
- the conveying to an employee of the inalienable right to share in a pension fund esp. in the event of termination of employment prior to the normal retirement age
- the right so conveyed
vest·ment ['ves(t)-mənt] -n, adj
- an outer garment
- a robe of ceremony or office
- clothing, garb
- a covering resembling a garment
- one of the articles of the ceremonial attire and insignia worn by ecclesiastical officiants and assistants as indicative of their rank and appropriate to the rite being celebrated
vestpocket -adj
- adapted to fit into the vest pocket
- a vestpocket edition of a book
- of very small size or scope
vestpocket park -n
- a very small urban park
ves·try ['ves-trē] -n
- sacristy
- a room used for church meetings and classes
- the business meeting of an English parish
- an elective body in an Episcopal parish composed of the rector and a group of elected parishioners administering the temporal affairs of the parish
ves·try·man [-trē-mən] -n
- a member of a vestry
ves·ture ['ves-chər, 'vesh-] -n
- a covering garment (as a robe or vestment)
- clothing, apparel
- something that covers like a garment
vesture -vt
- to cover with vesture : clothe
ve·su·vi·an [və-'sü-vē-ən] -n
- a match used esp. formerly for lighting cigars
Ve·su·vi·an [və-'sü-vē-ən] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling the volcano Vesuvius
- marked by sudden outbursts
- has a Vesuvian temper, but quickly controls himself -- Sidney Shalett
ve·su·vi·an·ite [-vē-ə-,nīt] -n
- idocrase
vet ['vet] -n
- veterinarian, veterinary
- to provide veterinary care for (an animal) or medical care for (a person)
- to subject (a person or animal) to a physical examination or checkup
- to subject to usu. expert appraisal or correction
- to evaluate for possible approval or acceptance
- vet the candidates for a position
- veteran
vetch ['vech] -n
- any of a genus ( Vicia) of herbaceous twining leguminous plants including some grown for fodder and green manure
vetch·ling ['vech-liŋ] -n
- any of various leguminous herbs (genus Lathyrusand esp. L. pratensis)
vet·er·an ['ve-tə-rən, 've-trən] -n, adj
- an old soldier of long service
- a former member of the armed forces
- a person of long experience usu. in some occupation or skill (as politics or the arts)
Veterans Day -n
- November 11 set aside in commemoration of the end of hostilities in 1918 and 1945 and observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. to honor the veterans of the armed forces
veterans' preference -n
- preferential treatment given qualified veterans of the U.S. armed forces under federal or state law
- special consideration (as by allowance of points) on a civil service examination
vet·er·i·nar·i·an [,ve-tə-rə-'ner-ē-ən, ,ve-trə-, ,ve-tə-'ner-] -n
- a person qualified and authorized to practice veterinary medicine
vet·er·i·nary ['ve-tə-rə-,ner-ē, 've-trə-, 've-tə-,ner-] -adj
- of, relating to, practicing, or being the science and art of prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease and injury in animals and esp. domestic animals
veterinary -n
- veterinarian
veterinary surgeon -n
- veterinarian
vet·i·ver ['ve-tə-vər] -n
- a tall perennial grass ( Vetiveria zizanioides) of southeastern Asia cultivated in warm regions esp. for its fragrant roots which are used esp. in woven goods (as mats) and in perfumes
- its root
ve·to ['vē-(,)tō] -n
- an authoritative prohibition : interdiction
- a power of one department or branch of a government to forbid or prohibit finally or provisionally the carrying out of projects attempted by another department
- a power vested in a chief executive to prevent permanently or temporarily the enactment of measures passed by a legislature
- the exercise of such authority
- a message communicating the reasons of an executive and esp. the president of the U.S. for vetoing a proposed law
veto [-,tō-ər] -vt, n
- to refuse to admit or approve : prohibit
- to refuse assent to (a legislative bill) so as to prevent enactment or cause reconsideration
ve·toproof [-,prüf] -adj
- having enough potential votes to be enacted over a veto or to override vetoes consistently
vex ['veks] -vt
- to bring trouble, distress, or agitation to
- the restaurant is vex ed by slow service
- to bring physical distress to
- a headache vex ed him all morning
- to irritate or annoy by petty provocations : harass
- puzzle, baffle
- a problem to vex the keenest wit
- to shake or toss about
vex·a·tion [vek-'sā-shən] -n
- the act of harassing or vexing : troubling
- the quality or state of being vexed : irritation
- a cause of trouble : affliction
vex·a·tious [-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- causing vexation : distressing
- intended to harass
- full of disorder or stress : troubled
- a vexatious period in her life
vexed ['vekst] -adj
- debated or discussed at length
vexed·ly ['vek-səd-lē, 'vekst-lē] -adv
- with vexation
vex·il·lol·o·gy [,vek-sə-'lä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the study of flags
vex·il·lum [vek-'si-ləm] -n
- a square flag of the ancient Roman cavalry
- the web or vane of a feather
vexing -adj, adv
- causing or likely to cause vexation : vexatious