English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Vic

noun

(slang) A victim, especially of a crime such as murder.

vicar

noun

In the Church of England, a member of the clergy in charge of a parish.

vicarage

noun

The house where a vicar lives.

vicariously

adv

By imagining or experiencing something through someone else's actions or feelings, rather than directly.

vice

noun

An immoral or bad habit; a minor personal failing or indulgence.

Vicente

name

A Spanish and Portuguese masculine given name, equivalent to Vincent, meaning "conquering."

viceroy

noun

A person who rules a colony, province, or territory as the official representative of a monarch.

Vichy

name

The French collaborationist government based in the town of Vichy during the German occupation in the Second World War.

vicinity

noun

The surrounding area or nearby region.

vicious

adj

Deliberately cruel, violent, or savage.

viciously

adv

In a cruel, violent, or savage manner.

Vick

name

An informal short form of the male given name Victor.

Vickers

name

An English surname, an occupational name derived from "vicar."

Vicki

name

A short form of the female given name Victoria.

Vickie

name

A short form of the female given name Victoria.

Vicksburg

name

A city in Mississippi, site of a decisive American Civil War battle.

Vicky

name

A short form of the female given name Victoria.

Vico

name

An Italian surname, notably that of the philosopher Giambattista Vico.

Vicodin

name

A brand name for a painkiller combining hydrocodone and paracetamol, sometimes misused recreationally.

vicomte

noun

A French nobleman ranking as a viscount.

victim

noun

A person who is harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, disease, or other misfortune.

victimized

adj

Having been treated unfairly, harmed, or made into a target.

victimless

adj

Not directly harming anyone; having no identifiable victim.

victimology

noun

The academic study of crime victims, including why certain people or groups are more likely to be victimized.

Victor

noun

A person who wins a fight, contest, or struggle.

Victoria

noun

A light, four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage for two passengers, with a folding hood and a raised seat for the driver.

Victorian

adj

Belonging to the reign of Britain's Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901), or to that era in general.

victorious

adj

Having won a contest, battle, or struggle.

victory

noun

The winning of a battle, contest, or struggle against an opponent.

Vida

name

A feminine given name meaning "life" in Spanish and Serbian.

Vidal

name

A Spanish, French, and Catalan surname derived from the Latin "vitalis," meaning "vital" or "full of life."

video

noun

Recorded moving pictures, with or without sound, that can be played back on a screen.

videotape

noun

Magnetic tape used to record and play back moving pictures and sound.

videotaped

adj

Recorded on videotape, or (loosely) recorded on video.

videotaping

noun

The act of recording something onto videotape or, more generally, onto video.

vidya

noun

Slang for video games.

vie

verb

To compete eagerly with others to get or achieve something.

Vieira

name

A Portuguese surname meaning "vine" or "vineyard."

Vienna

name

The capital city of Austria, known for its imperial architecture, coffeehouse culture, and classical music history.

Viennese

adj

Of or relating to Vienna.

Viet

noun

A Vietnamese person (informal, sometimes used in compounds like "Viet Cong").

Vietcong

name

The communist guerrilla movement that fought against the South Vietnamese government and its allies during the Vietnam War.

Vietnam

name

A country in Southeast Asia, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with its capital at Hanoi.

Vietnamese

adj

Of or relating to Vietnam, its people, culture, or language.

view

noun

What can be seen from a particular place, especially scenery.

viewed

adj

Looked at, watched, or regarded in a particular way (usually as part of a longer phrase).

viewer

noun

A person who watches something, especially television, a video, or a spectacle.

viewing

noun

An occasion of looking at or watching something, such as a house, artwork, or program.

viewpoint

noun

A person's particular way of thinking about a subject; an opinion or perspective.

vig

noun

Slang for the commission or interest charged by a bookmaker or moneylender.

vigil

noun

A period of staying awake, often at night, to watch, pray, or keep guard.

vigilance

noun

Careful and continuous attention, especially to spot possible danger or trouble.

vigilant

adj

Watchful and alert, especially for danger, trouble, or wrongdoing.

vigilante

noun

A person who takes it upon themselves to punish wrongdoing or enforce justice without legal authority.

Vigo

name

A city and port in northwestern Spain, and a masculine given name.

vigorous

adj

Full of physical energy and strength.

vigorously

adv

In a strong, energetic, or forceful manner.

vigour

noun

Physical or mental strength and energy; the capacity for vigorous effort.

Vijay

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "victory."

Vik

name

A short given name or nickname, often a diminutive of names such as Vikram or Viktor.

vika

noun

A large tree-dwelling rat species native to the Solomon Islands, discovered and named in the 2010s.

Viking

noun

A Scandinavian seafarer of the 8th to 11th centuries, especially one who raided or traded across Europe.

Vikram

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "valor" or "prowess."

Viktor

name

A variant spelling of Victor, a masculine given name meaning "conqueror," common in Slavic and Central European languages.

vila

noun

A female nature spirit in Slavic folklore, often associated with forests or water and compared to a fairy or nymph.

vile

adj

Morally disgusting or contemptible.

villa

noun

A large, comfortable house in the countryside or by the coast, often used as a holiday home.

village

noun

A small community of houses, smaller than a town, typically in a rural area.

villager

noun

Someone who lives in, or comes from, a village.

villain

noun

A wicked or evil character, especially the main antagonist in a story, film, or drama.

villainous

adj

Wicked, evil, or characteristic of a villain.

villainy

noun

Wicked or evil behaviour; a wicked act.

Villanueva

name

A Spanish surname meaning "new town."

ville

noun

A town, used informally, sometimes as a suffix or nickname attached to a place name.

Villeneuve

name

A French surname meaning "new town," also borne by the film director Denis Villeneuve.

Villette

name

A French place name and surname meaning "little town," also the title of a novel by Charlotte Brontë.

Villiers

name

An English surname of Norman French origin, historically borne by an aristocratic family.

Vin

name

A short masculine given name, often a diminutive of Vincent or Calvin.

Vinay

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "humility" or "discipline."

Vince

name

A masculine given name, a short form of Vincent.

Vincent

name

A male given name from Latin.

Vincenzo

name

An Italian masculine given name equivalent to Vincent, meaning "conquering."

vindaloo

noun

A very hot, tangy curry made with meat marinated in vinegar, garlic, and chilli, originating in Goa.

vindicated

adj

Shown to be right, justified, or free of blame after doubt or criticism.

vindication

noun

Proof or evidence that clears someone of blame or confirms that they were right.

vindictive

adj

Wanting revenge; inclined to punish or hurt someone who has wronged you.

vine

noun

A climbing or trailing plant with a flexible stem, especially one that produces grapes.

vinegar

noun

A sour liquid made by fermenting alcohol, used for flavouring, pickling, and preserving food.

vineyard

noun

A piece of land planted with grapevines, typically for making wine.

Vinnie

name

A masculine given name, an informal short form of Vincent.

vinny

adj

A dated dialect word meaning moldy or mildewed.

vino

noun

Wine, used informally.

Vinod

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "joy" or "happiness."

vintage

noun

The year or place a wine (or similar product) comes from, especially when it indicates quality.

Vinton

name

An English surname and place name, also a masculine given name.

vinyl

noun

A type of tough, flexible plastic, or a product made from it, such as flooring or upholstery.

viola

noun

A stringed instrument similar to but slightly larger than a violin, with a deeper tone.

violate

verb

To break or fail to comply with a law, rule, or agreement.

violated

adj

Broken or disregarded, as of a rule or agreement.

violation

noun

An act of breaking a law, rule, or agreement.

violence

noun

Physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill.

violent

adj

Using or involving physical force meant to hurt or kill.

violently

adv

In a way that involves physical force or intense action.

violet

noun

A small plant with fragrant purple or blue flowers, or the flower itself.

Violette

name

A French feminine given name meaning "violet," after the flower.

violin

noun

A small four-stringed instrument played with a bow, held under the chin, the highest-pitched of the standard string family.

violinist

noun

A person who plays the violin.

viper

noun

A venomous snake, especially one of the family that includes adders and rattlesnakes.

viral

adj

Relating to, or caused by, a virus.

Virgil

noun

Another name for the forward slash symbol ( / ), especially in printing and typesetting contexts.

virgin

noun

A person who has never had sex.

virginal

adj

Having the qualities of a virgin; innocent, pure, or untouched.

Virginia

name

A U.S. state on the Atlantic coast, whose capital is Richmond.

Virginian

noun

A person from the U.S. state of Virginia.

virginity

noun

The state of never having had sex.

Virgins

name

Part of several place names, most notably the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.

Virgo

name

A constellation, and the zodiac sign covering roughly August 23 to September 22, symbolized by a maiden.

virile

adj

Having qualities traditionally associated with masculinity, such as strength and vigor.

virility

noun

Manly strength, vigor, or masculine character.

virtual

adj

Existing in effect, though not officially or in a strict physical sense.

virtually

adv

Almost entirely; for all practical purposes.

virtue

noun

Moral goodness or excellence of character.

virtuoso

noun

Someone with extraordinary skill, especially a musician of exceptional technical ability.

virtuous

adj

Having strong moral character; morally good.

virulent

adj

Extremely infectious or harmful, said of a disease or pathogen.

virus

noun

A microscopic infectious agent that can only reproduce inside a living host cell, sometimes causing disease.

vis

noun

Force, power, or might (a somewhat formal or legal term).

visa

noun

An official permit allowing someone to enter, stay in, or leave a country.

visage

noun

A person's face, especially its expression (a literary or formal word).

visceral

adj

Relating to the internal organs of the body.

Visconti

name

An Italian surname, historically borne by a powerful noble family that ruled Milan.

viscount

noun

A nobleman ranked below an earl or count but above a baron.

viscous

adj

Thick and sticky, flowing slowly rather than freely.

vise

noun

A tool with two jaws tightened by a screw or lever, used to hold an object firmly in place while it is worked on.

Vishal

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, common in India, meaning roughly "large" or "vast."

Vishnu

name

One of the principal deities of Hinduism, regarded as the preserver of the universe within the Hindu trinity.

Vishwamitra

name

A revered sage-king in Hindu tradition, said to have become a Brahmarshi through extreme discipline and penance, and to have composed the Gayatri Mantra.

visibility

noun

The state or degree of being able to be seen.

visible

adj

Able to be seen.

visibly

adv

In a way that can be plainly seen; obviously.

vision

noun

The ability to see; eyesight.

visionary

adj

Showing unusual foresight or imaginative insight about the future.

visit

verb

To go and see a person or place, usually briefly.

visitation

noun

An official or formal visit, especially for inspection.

visited

adj

Having received a visit or visits.

visiting

noun

The act of going to see a person or place.

visitor

noun

Someone who comes to see a person, place, or event, often briefly or as a guest.

visor

noun

The movable front part of a helmet that covers the face, with slits or gaps to see and breathe through.

vista

noun

A long, open view, especially one seen through a gap or down a passage.

visual

adj

Relating to sight, or able to be seen.