Vat - Vegetable

Prev Next
[ Webster]

1. A large vessel, cistern, or tub, especially one used for holding liquors in an immature state, chemical preparations for dyeing, or for tanning, or for tanning leather, or the like.
[ Webster]

Let him produce his vats and tubs, in opposition to heaps of arms and standards. Addison.
[ Webster]

2. A measure for liquids, and also a dry measure; especially, a liquid measure in Belgium and Holland, corresponding to the hectoliter of the metric system, which contains 22.01 imperial gallons, or 26.4 standard gallons in the United States.
[ Webster]

☞ The old Dutch grain vat averaged 0.762 Winchester bushel. The old London coal vat contained 9 bushels. The solid-measurement vat of Amsterdam contains 40 cubic feet; the wine vat, 241.57 imperial gallons, and the vat for olive oil, 225.45 imperial gallons.
[ Webster]

3. (Metal.) (a) A wooden tub for washing ores and mineral substances in. (b) A square, hollow place on the back of a calcining furnace, where tin ore is laid to dry.
[ Webster]

4. (R. C. Ch.) A vessel for holding holy water.
[ Webster]

Vat (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vatted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Vatting.] To put or transfer into a vat.
[ Webster]

Vatful (?), n.; pl. Vatfuls (�). As much as a vat will hold; enough to fill a vat.
[ Webster]

Vatical (?), a. [L. vates a prophet.] Of or pertaining to a prophet; prophetical. Bp. Hall.
[ Webster]

Vatican (?), n. [L. Vaticanus, mons, or collis, Vaticanus, the Vatican hill, in Rome, on the western bank of the Tiber: cf. F. Vatican, It. Vaticano.] A magnificent assemblage of buildings at Rome, near the church of St. Peter, including the pope's palace, a museum, a library, a famous chapel, etc.
[ Webster]

☞ The word is often used to indicate the papal authority.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Thunders of the Vatican , the anathemas, or denunciations, of the pope.
[ Webster]

Vatican Council. (R. C. Ch.) The council held under Pope Pius IX. in Vatican at Rome, in 1870, which promulgated the dogma of papal infallibility.
[Webster Suppl.]

Vaticanism (?), n. The doctrine of papal supremacy; extreme views in support of the authority of the pope; ultramontanism; -- a term used only by persons who are not Roman Catholics.
[ Webster]

Vaticanist, n. One who strongly adheres to the papal authority; an ultramontanist.
[ Webster]

Vaticide (?), n. [L. vates a prophet + caedere to kill.] The murder, or the murderer, of a prophet. “The caitiff vaticide.” Pope.
[ Webster]

Vaticinal (?), a. [See .] Of or pertaining to prophecy; prophetic. T. Warton.
[ Webster]

Vaticinate (?), v. i. & t. [L. vaticinatus, p. p. of vaticinari to prophesy, fr. vaticinus prophetical, fr. vates a prophet.] To prophesy; to foretell; to practice prediction; to utter prophecies.
[ Webster]

Vaticination (?), n. [L. vaticinatio.] Prediction; prophecy.
[ Webster]

It is not a false utterance; it is a true, though an impetuous, vaticination. I. Taylor.
[ Webster]

Vaticinator (?), n. [L.] One who vaticinates; a prophet.
[ Webster]

Vaticine (?), n. [L. vaticinium.] A prediction; a vaticination. [Obs.] Holinshed.
[ Webster]

Vaudeville (?), n. [F., fr. Vau-de-vire, a village in Normandy, where Olivier Basselin, at the end of the 14th century, composed such songs.] [Written also vaudevil.]
[ Webster]

1. A kind of song of a lively character, frequently embodying a satire on some person or event, sung to a familiar air in couplets with a refrain; a street song; a topical song.
[ Webster]

2. A theatrical piece, usually a comedy, the dialogue of which is intermingled with light or satirical songs, set to familiar airs.
[ Webster]

The early vaudeville, which is the forerunner of the opera bouffe, was light, graceful, and piquant. Johnson's Cyc.
[ Webster]

3. a when performed live in a theater (see above); as, to play in vaudeville; a vaudeville actor.
[Webster Suppl.]

Vaudois (vōdwä), n. sing. & pl. [F.] 1. An inhabitant, or the inhabitants, of the Swiss canton of Vaud.
[ Webster]

2. A modern name of the Waldenses.
[ Webster]

Vaudoux (?), n. & a. See .
[ Webster]

Vault (v�lt; see Note, below), n. [OE. voute, OF. voute, volte, F. voûte, LL. volta, for voluta, volutio, fr. L. volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn about. See , and cf. a leap, a turn, .]
[ Webster]

1. (Arch.) An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.
[ Webster]

The long-drawn aisle and fretted vault. Gray.
[ Webster]

2. An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, used for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like; a cell; a cellar. “Charnel vaults.” Milton.
[ Webster]

The silent vaults of death. Sandys.
[ Webster]

To banish rats that haunt our vault. Swift.
[ Webster]

3. The canopy of heaven; the sky.
[ Webster]

That heaven's vault should crack. Shak.
[ Webster]

4. [F. volte, It. volta, originally, a turn, and the same word as volta an arch. See the Etymology above.] A leap or bound. Specifically: -- (a) (Man.) The bound or leap of a horse; a curvet. (b) A leap by aid of the hands, or of a pole, springboard, or the like.
[ Webster]

☞ The l in this word was formerly often suppressed in pronunciation.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Barrel vault , Coloq. Cradle vault , Coloq. Cylindrical vault , or Coloq. Wagon vault (Arch.), a kind of vault having two parallel abutments, and the same section or profile at all points. It may be rampant, as over a staircase (see Rampant vault, under ), or curved in plan, as around the apse of a church. -- Coloq. Coved vault . (Arch.) See under 1st , v. t. -- Coloq. Groined vault (Arch.), a vault having groins, that is, one in which different cylindrical surfaces intersect one another, as distinguished from a barrel, or wagon, vault. -- Coloq. Rampant vault . (Arch.) See under . -- Coloq. Ribbed vault (Arch.), a vault differing from others in having solid ribs which bear the weight of the vaulted surface. True Gothic vaults are of this character. -- Coloq. Vault light , a partly glazed plate inserted in a pavement or ceiling to admit light to a vault below.
[ Webster]

Vault (v�lt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaulting.] [OE. vouten, OF. volter, vouter, F. voûter. See an arch.]
[ Webster]

1. To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch; as, to vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court.
[ Webster]

The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley. Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

2. [See , v. i.] To leap over; esp., to leap over by aid of the hands or a pole; as, to vault a fence.
[ Webster]

I will vault credit, and affect high pleasures. Webster (1623).
[ Webster]

Vault, v. i. [Cf. OF. volter, F. voltiger, It. voltare to turn. See , n., 4.]
[ Webster]

1. To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.
[ Webster]

Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself. Shak.
[ Webster]

Leaning on his lance, he vaulted on a tree. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Lucan vaulted upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth. Addison.
[ Webster]

2. To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble.
[ Webster]

Vaultage (?), n. Vaulted work; also, a vaulted place; an arched cellar. [Obs.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Vaulted, a. 1. Arched; concave; as, a vaulted roof.
[ Webster]

2. Covered with an arch, or vault.
[ Webster]

3. (Bot.) Arched like the roof of the mouth, as the upper lip of many ringent flowers.
[ Webster]

Vaulter (?), n. One who vaults; a leaper; a tumbler. B. Jonson.
[ Webster]

Vaulting, n. 1. The act of constructing vaults; a vaulted construction.
[ Webster]

2. Act of one who vaults or leaps.
[ Webster]

Vaulty (?), a. Arched; concave. [Obs.] “The vaulty heaven.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Vaunce (?), v. i. [See .] To advance. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

Vaunt (vänt or v�nt; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vaunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaunting.] [F. vanter, LL. vanitare, fr. L. vanus vain. See .] To boast; to make a vain display of one's own worth, attainments, decorations, or the like; to talk ostentatiously; to brag.
[ Webster]

Pride, which prompts a man to vaunt and overvalue what he is, does incline him to disvalue what he has. Gov. of Tongue.
[ Webster]

Vaunt, v. t. To boast of; to make a vain display of; to display with ostentation. In the latter sense, the term usually used is flaunt.
[ Webster]

Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 1 Cor. xiii. 4.
[ Webster]

My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. Milton.
[ Webster]

Vaunt, n. A vain display of what one is, or has, or has done; ostentation from vanity; a boast; a brag.
[ Webster]

The spirits beneath, whom I seduced
With other promises and other vaunts. Milton.
[ Webster]

Vaunt, n. [F. avant before, fore. See , .] The first part. [Obs.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Vaunt, v. t. [See , .] To put forward; to display. [Obs.] “Vaunted spear.” Spenser.
[ Webster]

And what so else his person most may vaunt. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Vaunt-courier (?), n. See . [Obs.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Vaunter (?), n. One who vaunts; a boaster.
[ Webster]

Vauntful (?), a. Given to vaunting or boasting; vainly ostentatious; boastful; vainglorious.
[ Webster]

Vauntingly, adv. In a vaunting manner.
[ Webster]

Vauntmure (?), n. [F. avant-mur. See , and .] (Fort.) A false wall; a work raised in front of the main wall. [Written also vaimure, and vamure.] Camden.
[ Webster]

Vauquelinite (?), n. [So called after the French chemist Vauquelin, who died in 1829: cf. F. vauquelinite.] (Min.) Chromate of copper and lead, of various shades of green.
[ Webster]

Vaut (?), v. i. To vault; to leap. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

Vaut, n. A vault; a leap. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

Vauty (?), a. Vaulted. “The haughty vauty welkin.” [Obs.] Taylor (1611).
[ Webster]

Vavasor (?), n. [OE. vavasour, OF. vavassor, vavassour, F. vavasseur, LL. vavassor, probably contr. from vassus vassorum vassal of the vassals. See .] (Feud. Law) The vassal or tenant of a baron; one who held under a baron, and who also had tenants under him; one in dignity next to a baron; a title of dignity next to a baron. Burrill. “A worthy vavasour.” Chaucer. [Also written vavasour, vavassor, valvasor, etc.]
[ Webster]

Vavasours subdivide again to vassals, exchanging land and cattle, human or otherwise, against fealty. Motley.
[ Webster]

Vavasory (?), n. [F. vavassorie.] (Feud. Law) The quality or tenure of the fee held by a vavasor; also, the lands held by a vavasor.
[ Webster]

Vaward (?), n. [For vanward, equivalent to vanguard. See , guard.] The fore part; van. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Since we have the vaward of the day. Shak.
[ Webster]

Vaza parrot (?). (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of parrots of the genus Coracopsis, native of Madagascar; -- called also vasa parrot.
[ Webster]

VCR (vēsēär), n. a . [acronym]
[PJC]

Veadar (?), n. The thirteenth, or intercalary, month of the Jewish ecclesiastical calendar, which is added about every third year.
[ Webster]

Veal (vēl), n.[OE. veel, OF. veel, F. veau, L. vitellus, dim. of vitulus a calf; akin to E. wether. See , and cf. , .] The flesh of a calf when killed and used for food.
[ Webster]

Vection (?), n. [L. vectio, from vehere, vectum, to carry.] Vectitation. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vectitation (?), n. [L. vectitatus borne about, fr. vectare, v. intens. fr. vehere, vectum, to carry.] The act of carrying, or state of being carried. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vector (?), n. [L., a bearer, carrier. fr. vehere, vectum, to carry.] 1. Same as .
[ Webster]

2. (Math.) A directed quantity, as a straight line, a force, or a velocity. Vectors are said to be equal when their directions are the same and their magnitudes equal. Cf. .
[ Webster]

☞ In a triangle, either side is the vector sum of the other two sides taken in proper order; the process finding the vector sum of two or more vectors is vector addition (see under ).
[ Webster]

Vecture (?), n. [L. vectura, from vehere, vectum, to carry. Cf. , .] The act of carrying; conveyance; carriage. [Obs.] Bacon.
[ Webster]

Veda (vādȧor vēdȧ; 277), n. [Skr. vēda, properly, knowledge, from vid to know. See .] The ancient sacred literature of the Hindus; also, one of the four collections, called Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda, constituting the most ancient portions of that literature.
[ Webster]

☞ The language of the Vedas is usually called Coloq. Vedic Sanskrit , as distinguished from the later and more settled form called Coloq. classical Sanskrit .
[ Webster]

Vedanta (?), n. [Skr. Vēdanta.] A system of philosophy among the Hindus, founded on scattered texts of the Vedas, and thence termed the “Anta,” or end or substance. Balfour (Cyc. of India.)
[ Webster]

Vedantic (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Vedas.
[ Webster]

Vedantist (?), n. One versed in the doctrines of the Vedantas.
[ Webster]

Veddahs (vĕddȧz), n. pl. (Ethnol.) A primitive people of Ceylon. [Written also Weddars.] Encyc Brit.
[ Webster]

Vedette (?), n. [F. vedette, It. vedetta, for veletta (influenced by vedere to see, L. videre), from It. veglia watch, L. vigilia. See .] A sentinel, usually on horseback, stationed on the outpost of an army, to watch an enemy and give notice of danger; a vidette.
[ Webster]

Vedic (vādĭk or vē-), a. Of or pertaining to the Vedas or one of the Vedas. Max Müller)
[ Webster]

Vedro (?), n. [Russ., pail.] A Russian liquid measure, equal to 3.249 gallons of U. S. standard measure, or 2.706 imperial gallons. McElrath.
[ Webster]

Veer (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Veered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Veering.] [F. virer (cf. Sp. virar, birar), LL. virare; perhaps fr. L. vibrare to brandish, vibrate (cf. ); or cf. L. viriae armlets, bracelets, viriola a little bracelet (cf. ). Cf. .] To change direction; to turn; to shift; as, wind veers to the west or north. “His veering gait.” Wordsworth.
[ Webster]

And as he leads, the following navy veers. Dryden.
[ Webster]

an ordinary community which is hostile or friendly as passion or as interest may veer about. Burke.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To veer and haul (Naut.), to vary the course or direction; -- said of the wind, which veers aft and hauls forward. The wind is also said to veer when it shifts with the sun.
[ Webster]

Veer, v. t. To direct to a different course; to turn; to wear; as, to veer, or wear, a vessel.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To veer and haul (Naut.), to pull tight and slacken alternately. Totten. -- Coloq. To veer away or Coloq. To veer out (Naut.), to let out; to slacken and let run; to pay out; as, to veer away the cable; to veer out a rope.
[ Webster]

Veerable (-ȧb'l), a. Changeable; shifting; as, winds veerable to southwest. Dampier.
[ Webster]

Veering, a. Shifting. -- Veeringly, adv.
[ Webster]

Veery (?), n. (Zoöl.) An American thrush (Turdus fuscescens) common in the Northern United States and Canada. It is light tawny brown above. The breast is pale buff, thickly spotted with brown. Called also Wilson's thrush.
[ Webster]

Sometimes I hear the veery's clarion. Thoreau.
[ Webster]

Vega (vēgȧ), n. (Astron.) [Ar. wāgi', properly, falling: cf. F. Wéga.] A brilliant star of the first magnitude, the brightest of those constituting the constellation Lyra.
[ Webster]

Vega (?), n. [Sp.] An open tract of ground; a plain, esp. one which is moist and fertile, as those used for tobacco fields. [Sp. Amer. & Phil. Islands]
[Webster Suppl.]

vegan (vēgŭn or vējŭn), n. A vegetarian who does not eat any animal products, not even fish, eggs, or milk.
[PJC]

Vegetability (?), n. The quality or state of being vegetable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
[ Webster]

Vegetable (?), a. [F. végétable growing, capable of growing, formerly also, as a noun, a vegetable, from L. vegetabilis enlivening, from vegetare to enliven, invigorate, quicken, vegetus enlivened, vigorous, active, vegere to quicken, arouse, to be lively, akin to vigere to be lively, to thrive, vigil watchful, awake, and probably to E. wake, v. See , , v.]
[ Webster]

1. Of or pertaining to plants; having the nature of, or produced by, plants; as, a vegetable nature; vegetable growths, juices, etc.
[ Webster]

Blooming ambrosial fruit
Of vegetable gold. Milton.
[ Webster]

2. Consisting of, or comprising, plants; as, the vegetable kingdom.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Vegetable alkali (Chem.), an alkaloid. -- Coloq. Vegetable brimstone . (Bot.) See Vegetable sulphur, below. -- Coloq. Vegetable butter (Bot.), a name of several kinds of concrete vegetable oil; as that produced by the Indian butter tree, the African shea tree, and the Pentadesma butyracea, a tree of the order Guttiferæ, also African. Still another kind is pressed from the seeds of cocoa (Theobroma). -- Coloq. Vegetable flannel , a textile material, manufactured in Germany from pine-needle wool, a down or fiber obtained from the leaves of the Pinus sylvestris. -- Coloq. Vegetable ivory . See Ivory nut, under . -- Coloq. Vegetable jelly . See . -- Coloq. Vegetable kingdom . (Nat. Hist.) See the last Phrase, below. -- Coloq. Vegetable leather . (a) (Bot.) A shrubby West Indian spurge (Euphorbia punicea), with leathery foliage and crimson bracts. (b) See Vegetable leather, under . -- Coloq. Vegetable marrow (Bot.), an egg-shaped gourd, commonly eight to ten inches long. It is noted for the very tender quality of its flesh, and is a favorite culinary vegetable in England. It has been said to be of Persian origin, but is now thought to have been derived from a form of the American pumpkin. -- Coloq. Vegetable oyster (Bot.), the oyster plant. See under . -- Coloq. Vegetable parchment , papyrine. -- Coloq. Vegetable sheep (Bot.), a white woolly plant (Raoulia eximia) of New Zealand, which grows in the form of large fleecy cushions on the mountains. -- Coloq. Vegetable silk , a cottonlike, fibrous material obtained from the coating of the seeds of a Brazilian tree (Chorisia speciosa). It is used for various purposes, as for stuffing cushions, and the like, but is incapable of being spun on account of a want of cohesion among the fibers. -- Coloq. Vegetable sponge . See 1st . -- Coloq. Vegetable sulphur , the fine and highly inflammable spores of the club moss (Lycopodium clavatum); witch meal. -- Coloq. Vegetable tallow , a substance resembling tallow, obtained from various plants; as, Chinese vegetable tallow, obtained from the seeds of the tallow tree. Indian vegetable tallow is a name sometimes given to piney tallow. -- Coloq. Vegetable wax , a waxy excretion on the leaves or fruits of certain plants, as the bayberry.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z