English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

vac

verb

Informal: to vacuum; to clean using a vacuum cleaner.

Vaca

name

A Spanish and Portuguese surname meaning "cow."

vacancy

noun

A job or position that is currently unfilled and available.

vacant

adjective

Not occupied or in use; empty.

vacate

verb

To leave a property, room, or position, making it available for someone else.

vacation

noun

A trip or period of time away from home taken for rest or pleasure.

vacationing

noun

The act of taking a vacation or holiday away from work.

vaccinate

verb

To give someone a vaccine so their body builds protection against a disease.

vaccinated

adj

Having received a vaccine and therefore protected against a specific disease.

vaccination

noun

The act of giving a vaccine to protect someone from a disease; also the injection itself.

vaccine

noun

A substance given to the body to trigger immunity against a disease, usually made from a weakened or inactive form of the germ that causes it.

vacuum

noun

A space that is completely empty of matter, including air.

vacuumed

adj

Cleaned by using a vacuum cleaner.

vacuuming

noun

The activity of cleaning with a vacuum cleaner.

vada

noun

A savoury fried snack, shaped like a small doughnut or fritter, popular across South Asia.

Vadim

name

A masculine given name of Russian origin, a short form of Vladimir.

vag

noun

Informal shortening of "vagina."

vagabond

noun

A person who wanders from place to place with no fixed home, often living hand to mouth.

vagina

noun

The muscular passage in female mammals that connects the vulva to the uterus, used in sex and childbirth.

vaginal

adj

Relating to or affecting the vagina.

vagrancy

noun

The state or condition of living as a vagrant, without a settled home or regular income.

vagrant

noun

A person with no permanent home who moves from place to place, often begging or living on the street.

vague

adj

Not clearly expressed, defined, or understood; lacking precise detail.

vaguely

adv

In a vague or unclear way; without precise detail.

Vai

noun

An ethnic group of Liberia and Sierra Leone.

vail

verb

To lower something, such as a hat or flag, as a sign of respect or submission.

vain

adj

Excessively proud of one's own looks or achievements.

Vaishali

name

A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, and the name of an ancient city in northern India.

val

noun

Informal short form of "Valium," a common anti-anxiety medication.

Vala

name

A feminine given name, a variant of Valerie or Vale used in several European languages.

Valdes

name

A Spanish surname, historically denoting someone from a place called Valdés.

Valdez

name

A Spanish surname, and the name of a port city in Alaska.

vale

noun

A valley, especially a wide, low stretch of land between hills.

valedictorian

noun

The top student in a graduating class, often chosen to give the farewell speech at graduation.

Valencia

noun

A sweet, thin-skinned variety of orange, popular for juicing.

Valens

name

A Roman family name, notably borne by a 4th-century Roman emperor.

Valenti

name

An Italian surname derived from the given name Valentino, meaning "strong" or "healthy."

Valentina

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, meaning "strong" or "healthy."

valentine

noun

A card, gift, or affectionate message sent to someone on Valentine's Day.

Valentino

noun

A strikingly handsome, romantic-looking man, especially one who resembles the silent-film star Rudolph Valentino.

Valera

name

A surname of Spanish and Irish usage, also part of the Irish statesman name Éamon de Valera.

Valeria

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, meaning "strong" or "healthy."

valerian

noun

A flowering plant whose root is used in herbal medicine, often as a natural sleep aid or calming remedy.

Valerie

name

A female given name from French [in turn from Latin].

Valerius

name

A masculine Roman given name and family name, meaning "strong" or "healthy."

Valery

name

A given name used for both men and women, common in French and Russian, derived from the Latin "valere," to be strong.

valet

noun

A personal attendant who looks after someone's clothes and general appearance.

Valhalla

noun

In Norse mythology, the great hall where warriors who died bravely in battle are said to feast for eternity.

Vali

name

A given name found in Norse mythology, borne by a son of the god Odin.

valiant

adj

Showing great courage, especially in a difficult or dangerous situation.

valiantly

adv

In a brave, courageous way.

valid

adj

Based on sound reasoning; well-founded and hard to argue against.

validate

verb

To check that something is correct, official, or meets the required standard.

validated

adj

Confirmed as correct or officially approved.

validation

noun

The act of confirming that something is correct, genuine, or meets a standard.

validity

noun

The quality of being sound, genuine, or logically acceptable.

valise

noun

A small suitcase or travel bag carried by hand.

Valium

noun

A brand name for diazepam, a sedative drug used to treat anxiety and muscle spasms.

Valjean

name

A surname, best known as that of Jean Valjean, the protagonist of Victor Hugo's novel "Les Misérables."

valkyrie

noun

In Norse mythology, one of the female figures who choose which warriors die in battle and lead them to Valhalla.

Valle

name

A Spanish and Italian surname meaning "valley."

valley

noun

A long, low area of land between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.

Valli

name

A surname, notably borne by American singer Frankie Valli.

Valmont

name

A French surname, notably that of the antihero Vicomte de Valmont in the novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses."

Valois

name

A French royal house that ruled France from 1328 to 1589.

valour

noun

Great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.

valuable

adj

Worth a lot of money.

valuables

noun

Personal items of significant monetary or sentimental worth, such as jewellery or cash.

valuation

noun

An estimate of how much something is worth.

value

noun

How much something is worth, in money or importance.

valued

adj

Regarded as important or worth a great deal.

valve

noun

A device that controls or directs the flow of liquid or gas through a pipe or opening.

Valya

name

A Russian diminutive form of the names Valentina or Valentin.

vamoose

verb

To leave quickly, especially to escape or avoid trouble.

vamp

noun

The front part of a shoe or boot covering the toes and instep.

vampire

noun

A legendary undead creature said to survive by drinking the blood of the living.

vamps

noun

Old stockings that have been given new feet or soles.

van

noun

A boxy motor vehicle used to carry goods or passengers, larger than a car but smaller than a lorry.

Vance

name

An English surname and masculine given name, originally denoting someone who lived near a marsh or fen.

Vancouver

name

A major city in British Columbia, Canada, named after the explorer George Vancouver.

vanda

noun

Any orchid belonging to the genus Vanda, prized for large, brightly coloured flowers.

vandal

noun

Someone who deliberately damages or destroys property, especially for no good reason.

vandalism

noun

Deliberate damage or destruction of property, such as graffiti or smashed windows.

vandalized

adj

Deliberately damaged or defaced.

Vandals

name

A Germanic people who sacked Rome in 455 AD, from whose name the word "vandalism" derives.

Vanderbilt

name

A prominent American family surname of Dutch origin, associated with the wealthy Vanderbilt business dynasty.

vane

noun

A device mounted on a roof or pole that turns to show which way the wind is blowing.

Vanessa

noun

A butterfly of the genus Vanessa, which includes species such as the painted lady and red admiral.

vanguard

noun

The foremost part of an advancing army, fleet, or group.

vani

noun

A custom found in parts of Pakistan in which a girl, sometimes a minor, is handed over in marriage or servitude to another family to settle a dispute, often after a killing.

vanilla

noun

The extract or flavoring made from the pods of a tropical climbing orchid, used widely in baking, desserts, and perfume.

vanish

verb

To disappear suddenly, or to go out of sight without being noticed.

vanished

adj

No longer present or visible; gone completely.

vanishing

adj

Disappearing, or becoming increasingly rare.

vanity

noun

Excessive pride in one's own looks, abilities, or achievements.

vanna

noun

In finance, a measure of how much an option's sensitivity to volatility (vega) changes as the price of the underlying asset moves.

vanquish

verb

To defeat someone or something completely, especially in a fight or contest.

vanquished

adj

Completely defeated.

vantage

noun

A position, especially a high or favorable one, that gives a clear view or an advantage.

Vanya

name

A Russian diminutive form of the name Ivan.

vapid

adj

Lacking any interest, energy, or flavor; dull and unremarkable.

vapor

noun

Tiny droplets or particles suspended in the air, such as mist, steam, or fumes.

vaporize

verb

To turn into vapor or gas, typically through intense heat.

vapour

noun

British spelling of vapor: mist, steam, or fumes suspended in the air.

Varda

name

A Hebrew feminine given name meaning "rose."

Varga

name

A Hungarian surname, an occupational name for a cobbler or tanner.

Vargas

name

A Spanish and Portuguese surname, originally denoting someone from a sloping or hilly place.

variable

adj

Likely to change, or capable of being changed.

variance

noun

A difference between what was expected and what actually happened.

variant

noun

A form of something that differs slightly from a standard or original version.

variation

noun

A change, or the act of changing, in the form, amount, or quality of something.

varicose

adj

Describing veins that are abnormally swollen, twisted, and enlarged, usually in the legs.

varied

adj

Made up of many different kinds or types; diverse.

various

det

More than one; several different (things or people).

varmint

noun

A wild animal considered a pest, especially one that threatens crops or livestock.

Varner

name

An English surname, an occupational name related to guarding or warning.

varnish

noun

A clear liquid that dries to form a hard, glossy protective coating on wood or other surfaces.

varsity

noun

The main sports team representing a school, college, or university, as opposed to junior or reserve teams.

Varun

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, referring to Varuna, a Hindu god associated with the sky and waters.

vary

verb

To change or differ, especially over time or from one instance to another.

varying

adj

Differing from one instance to another; changing.

Vas

name

A short given name or nickname, often a diminutive of Vasily or Vasilios.

vasa

noun

Any parrot of the genus Coracopsis, native to Madagascar, known for its dark, almost black plumage.

vascular

adj

Relating to the vessels — such as veins, arteries, or plant tubes — that carry fluids like blood or sap through a living body.

vase

noun

A decorative container, usually tall and open at the top, used mainly to hold and display flowers.

vasectomy

noun

A surgical procedure that cuts or seals the tubes carrying sperm, used as a permanent form of male birth control.

vaseline

verb

To smear or coat something with Vaseline (petroleum jelly), often to lubricate or waterproof it.

Vasily

name

A Russian masculine given name derived from the Greek "Basileios," meaning "royal" or "kingly."

Vasquez

name

A Spanish surname, a variant spelling of Vázquez.

vassal

noun

In the feudal system, someone granted land by a lord in return for loyalty and service.

Vassar

name

A surname, notably that of Vassar College, a liberal arts college in New York founded by Matthew Vassar.

vast

adj

Extremely large in size, extent, or amount.

vastly

adv

By a very large amount; greatly.

vastness

noun

The quality of being enormous in size or extent.

Vasu

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "wealth" or "excellent."

Vasya

name

A Russian diminutive form of the name Vasily.

vat

noun

A large container, typically used for holding or processing liquids such as wine, beer, or dye.

Vatican

name

The independent city-state in Rome that serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and residence of the Pope.

vato

noun

A casual, informal way to refer to a guy or dude, especially among Mexican-American and Chicano speakers.

vaudeville

noun

A style of variety theatre made up of unrelated acts — singers, comedians, dancers, acrobats — popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Vaughan

name

A Welsh surname and given name meaning "small" or "little."

Vaughn

name

A variant spelling of Vaughan, a Welsh surname and given name meaning "small."

vault

noun

A strong, secure room, especially one used to store money, valuables, or important records.

Vauxhall

name

An area of London, England, in the borough of Lambeth.

Vayu

name

A name from Hindu mythology referring to Vayu, the god of wind.

ve

noun

The name of the Cyrillic letter В/в.

veal

noun

Meat from a young calf.

Vecchio

name

An Italian surname meaning "old."

vector

noun

In math and physics, a quantity that has both a size (magnitude) and a direction.

Veda

name

Any of the ancient sacred texts of Hinduism, forming the earliest layer of Sanskrit literature.