English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

venom

noun

A poisonous substance produced by an animal, such as a snake or scorpion, and delivered through a bite or sting to attack prey or defend itself.

venomous

adj

Capable of injecting venom, typically by biting or stinging.

vent

noun

An opening that allows air, gas, or smoke to pass through or escape.

vented

adjective

Fitted with a small opening that lets air, gas, or steam pass through.

venthole

noun

A small opening that lets air or gas pass out.

venti

noun

The large drink size at Starbucks: twenty fluid ounces for a hot drink, or twenty-four for an iced one.

ventilate

verb

To let fresh air circulate through a space, replacing stale or stagnant air.

ventilation

noun

The process of clearing out stale or unhealthy air and letting fresh air in.

ventilator

noun

A device that circulates fresh air into a space and expels stale air.

venting

noun

The act of releasing gas, pressure, or built-up emotion.

ventral

adj

Relating to the belly or stomach area.

ventricle

noun

One of the two lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out to the lungs and the rest of the body.

ventricular

adj

Relating to a ventricle, especially one of the heart's lower chambers.

ventriculus

noun

A part of the digestive system, such as a stomach or gizzard, that processes food.

ventriloquism

noun

The performance skill of speaking without visibly moving the lips, so the voice appears to come from somewhere else, such as a puppet.

ventriloquist

noun

A performer who speaks without moving their lips so their voice seems to come from a puppet or dummy.

ventrum

noun

The abdomen or belly, especially in an animal.

Ventura

name

A Spanish and Italian surname meaning "good fortune," and the name of a city in California.

venture

noun

A risky or bold undertaking whose outcome is uncertain.

venturer

noun

Someone who travels or explores, often taking risks.

venturesome

adj

Willing to try new and risky things; bold and daring.

venturing

noun

The act of daring to try or go somewhere risky.

venu

noun

A traditional transverse bamboo flute used in Indian classical music.

venue

noun

A place where an event, especially a sporting or entertainment event, is held.

Venus

name

The second planet from the Sun in our Solar System, named for the Roman goddess of love.

Ver

name

A short name or nickname, often a truncation of names such as Vernon or Veronica.

vera

name

A female given name of Russian origin.

veracious

adj

Honest and always telling the truth.

veracity

noun

The quality of being truthful or accurate.

Veracruz

name

A state and port city on the Gulf coast of Mexico.

veranda

noun

A roofed, open-sided platform or porch attached to the outside of a house.

verb

noun

A word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being.

verbal

adj

Relating to words, especially spoken rather than written ones.

verbalise

verb

A non-Oxford British English standard spelling of verbalize.

verbalism

noun

The way an idea is put into words, or the particular wording chosen.

verbalize

verb

To put a thought or feeling into words.

verbally

adv

By speaking rather than writing.

verbatim

adv

Word for word, using exactly the same wording as the original.

verbena

noun

A genus of soft-stemmed plants, some kinds grown for their beautiful flowers; also called vervain.

verbiage

noun

Excessive or unnecessary words, especially language that is wordy and says little.

verbose

adj

Using far more words than needed, making something long-winded and wordy.

verbosity

noun

The habit of using more words than are truly needed to say something clearly.

verdant

adj

Coloured green.

Verde

adj

Describing a financial option that can only be exercised on set dates spaced further apart than every quarter — typically once a year.

Verdi

name

An Italian surname, most famously that of the composer Giuseppe Verdi.

verdict

noun

A jury's or judge's formal decision on a case.

verdigris

noun

A greenish-blue layer that builds up on copper or metals containing copper.

verdun

noun

A style of rapier, a long, slender thrusting sword, popular in the 16th century.

verdure

noun

Fresh green colour in growing plants, or the plants themselves.

verdurous

adj

Covered in fresh green plants.

Vere

name

An English surname and given name, historically borne by the noble de Vere family.

Verena

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, possibly meaning "truthful."

verge

noun

The point right before something happens; the brink or edge.

verger

noun

A church official who looks after the building and assists during services.

vergil

name

A male first name of Latin, of rare usage, variant of Virgil origin.

veridical

adj

Describing an experience or view of something that truly matches reality.

veridicality

noun

How closely something, such as a perception or belief, matches what is actually true.

verifiable

adj

Able to be checked and shown to be true.

verification

noun

The act of confirming that something is true, accurate, or genuine.

verified

adj

Confirmed as true, accurate, or authentic.

verifier

noun

Computing (dated): a machine that checked the holes on a punched card had been made in the right places.

verify

verb

To check or prove that something is true or accurate.

verily

adv

Truly; in fact (an old-fashioned or formal word for emphasis).

verisimilitude

noun

The quality of appearing real or true to life.

veritable

adj

Used to emphasize that something truly deserves the description given — a real, genuine example of it.

veritably

adv

Really and truly; used to stress that something is genuinely the case.

veritas

noun

Truth, especially in a lofty or philosophical sense (from Latin).

verity

noun

A fundamental or lasting truth.

verklempt

adj

(informal) So full of emotion that you can hardly speak.

Verma

name

A common North Indian surname.

Vermeer

name

A Dutch surname, notably that of the 17th-century painter Johannes Vermeer.

vermeil

adj

A bright red colour.

vermicelli

noun

A type of long, thin pasta, finer than spaghetti.

vermilion

noun

A vivid orange-red color, originally made from a mineral pigment.

Vermillion

name

A place name used for several towns in the United States, and a surname, both derived from the bright red pigment of the same name.

vermin

noun

Small animals, especially rodents or insects, considered pests because they damage crops, spread disease, or cause a nuisance.

Vermont

name

A U.S. state in New England, known for its mountains and maple syrup, with Montpelier as its capital.

vermouth

noun

A fortified wine flavored with herbs and spices, often served as an aperitif or used in cocktails.

Vern

name

A masculine given name, a short form of Vernon.

Verna

name

A feminine given name, possibly from Latin "vernus," meaning "of spring."

vernacular

noun

The everyday, informal language spoken by ordinary people in a particular place, as opposed to formal or literary language.

Verne

name

Surname best known from Jules Verne, the French author often called a father of science fiction.

vernie

name

A diminutive of the male given name Vernon.

Vernon

name

A surname of Anglo-Norman origin, taken from a town of the same name in Normandy, France; also a common English given name.

Verona

name

A historic city in northern Italy, on the river Adige, famous as the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

veronica

noun

A small flowering plant, usually with blue or purple flowers, also called speedwell.

verruca

noun

A wart, particularly one occurring on the foot, caused by the human papillomavirus.

Versace

name

The Italian luxury fashion house founded by designer Gianni Versace.

versaillais

adj

Relating to the French city of Versailles or the palace found there.

Versailles

name

A city near Paris famous for its opulent royal palace, once home to the French monarchy.

versaillese

adj

Backing the French government based in Versailles when it crushed the Paris Commune in 1871.

versal

noun

A decorated capital letter placed at the start of a section of text.

versant

noun

The slope on the side of a mountain or ridge.

versatile

adj

Able to do many different things well, or adaptable to many different uses.

versatility

noun

The quality of being able to adapt to many different tasks, roles, or uses.

verse

noun

Writing arranged with rhythm and often rhyme, as in poetry.

versed

adj

Skilled or knowledgeable, usually through study or practice.

versifier

noun

A person who writes verse.

version

noun

One particular form of something that exists in multiple variants.

verst

noun

A verst is a traditional Russian unit of length equal to roughly 1.07 kilometres, or about two-thirds of a mile.

versus

prep

Against, or in opposition to, especially in a contest, match, or legal case.

vert

noun

In heraldry, the colour green, traditionally shown in engravings as diagonal lines.

vertebra

noun

Any one of the small bones that link together to form the spine.

vertebral

adj

Relating to the spine or one of its bones.

vertebrate

noun

An animal that has a backbone and belongs to the group Vertebrata.

vertex

noun

A point where two or more lines, edges or curves meet; a corner of a shape or angle.

vertical

adj

Standing straight up, at a right angle to the ground or to a horizontal line.

vertically

adv

In an up-and-down direction, at a right angle to the horizon.

vertigo

noun

A spinning sensation and loss of balance, often triggered by heights or inner-ear problems.

vervain

noun

A wild flowering herb once believed to have healing and even magical properties.

verve

noun

Great energy and enthusiasm, especially the kind that brings a piece of art, music or writing to life.

very

adv

Used before an adjective or adverb to intensify it — to a high degree.

very good

adjective

Of a high standard, clearly better than average but short of excellent.

very much

adverb

To a great degree; a lot. It strengthens a verb and normally comes after the verb or at the end of the clause.

very well

interjection

Used to say that you agree or consent, often reluctantly, and will go along with what has been proposed.

vesicate

verb

To cause blisters to form on the skin.

vesicle

noun

Biology: a small enclosed space inside a cell, surrounded by a membrane.

Vespa

noun

An Italian brand of motor scooter, known for its rounded, retro design.

Vespasian

name

The name of a Roman emperor, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, who ruled from 69 to 79 CE and began construction of the Colosseum.

vesper

noun

The bell rung to call people to evening prayers.

vespers

noun

An evening prayer service in the Christian church, one of the traditional canonical hours.

vespertide

noun

The evening, especially the time when vespers is said in church.

vessel

noun

A ship, boat, or other craft built for travelling on water (or, more loosely, air or space).

vest

noun

A sleeveless piece of clothing worn over a shirt, often as part of a suit (called a "waistcoat" in British English).

Vesta

name

The Roman goddess of the hearth, home, and family life.

vestal

adj

Chaste and pure, especially associated with virginity or purity.

vested

adj

Legally fixed or guaranteed, with no further conditions to be met.

vested interest

noun

A personal stake in how something turns out, which gives you a reason to argue for a particular outcome and may make your advice unreliable.

vestiary

noun

A room used for changing or storing clothes, especially in a church.

vestibule

noun

A small entrance hall or lobby leading into a larger room or building.

vestige

noun

A footprint left in the ground.

vestment

noun

A special robe or gown worn to show someone's official position.

vestry

noun

A room in a church where the clergy put on their vestments and where these are stored; also used for meetings and classes.

vesture

noun

(literary) Something that covers a person or thing like clothing.

Vesuvius

name

An active volcano near Naples, Italy, famous for the eruption in 79 CE that buried Pompeii.

vet

noun

A doctor who treats animals; short for veterinarian.

vetch

noun

Any of various leguminous plants of the genus Vicia and related plants in the subfamily Faboideae, often grown as green manure or for their edible seeds.

veteran

noun

Someone with long experience in a particular field or activity.

veterans

noun

People who have served in the armed forces, especially those who are no longer serving.

veterinarian

noun

A doctor trained and qualified to treat animals.

veterinary

adj

Relating to the medical treatment of animals.

veto

noun

The official power to reject or block a decision, law, or proposal.

Vette

noun

An informal shortening of "Corvette", the Chevrolet sports car.

vetted

adj

Having been carefully checked and approved.

vetting

noun

The process of carefully checking or investigating someone or something before approval.

vex

verb

To annoy or irritate someone.

vexation

noun

The act of annoying or irritating someone, or a particular case of this.

vexatious

adj

Causing annoyance or trouble.

vexed

adj

Annoyed, irritated, or troubled.

vexer

noun

A person who annoys or irritates others.