English dictionary — definitions & meanings

Viagra

name

A brand name for the drug sildenafil citrate, prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction.

vial

noun

A small glass or plastic container, often tube-shaped, used to hold liquids such as medicine or perfume.

viaticum

noun

The Eucharist, when given to a person who is dying or one in danger of death.

viator

noun

A wayfarer, traveler.

vibe

noun

The general feeling or atmosphere given off by a person, place, or situation.

vibrant

adj

Full of energy, life, and enthusiasm.

vibrate

verb

To shake with small, rapid back-and-forth movements.

vibratile

adj

Adapted to, or used in, vibratory motion; having the power of vibrating.

vibrating

adj

Shaking with small, rapid movements.

vibration

noun

A rapid, repeated back-and-forth movement, or the state of shaking in this way.

vibratiuncle

noun

A minuscule or slight vibration; specifically, a vibration in brain tissue caused by the comparatively greater vibrations of the particles of the medullary substance of the nerves (formerly hypothesised to convey external impressions to the mind).

vibrative

adj

Involving vibration; vibrating, vibratory.

vibrato

noun

(music) A slight, rapid wavering in pitch used to add expression to a sung or played note.

vibrator

noun

A device that vibrates, especially one used for massage or sexual stimulation.

vibrissa

noun

Any of the tactile whiskers on the nose of an animal such as a cat.

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.

vicarate

noun

The territory for which a vicar is responsible.

vicariate

noun

The office, authority, or district of a vicar.

vicarious

adjective

Experienced indirectly, by imagining or watching what happens to someone else rather than doing it yourself.

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.

vice versa

adverb

With the two things just mentioned swapped round; the other way about.

vicecomital

adj

Of or pertaining to a viscount.

Vicente

name

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

vicereine

noun

The wife of a viceroy.

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.

viciousness

noun

The characteristic of being vicious.

Vick

name

An informal short form of the male given name Victor.

Vickers

name

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

vickey

name

A diminutive of the female given name Victoria, variant of Vicky.

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.

vicontiel

adj

Of or pertaining to the viscount or sheriff of a county.

victim

noun

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

victimization

noun

An act that victimizes or exploits someone.

victimize

verb

To make (someone) a victim or sacrifice.

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.

victoriana

noun

Items related to the Victorian era, especially collectibles.

victorious

adj

Having won a contest, battle, or struggle.

victoriously

adv

In a victorious manner; as part of a victory.

victoriousness

noun

The state or condition of being victorious.

victory

noun

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

victrice

noun

A female victor; a victress.

victrix

noun

victor (female); victress.

victual

noun

Food fit for human (or occasionally animal) consumption.

victualler

noun

A supplier of victuals or supplies to an army.

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."

viddy

noun

A video or video recording.

videlicet

adv

Namely, to wit, that is to say (used when clarifying or naming the preceding item or topic)

video

noun

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

videogram

noun

A physical object containing an audiovisual work, such as a videotape or DVD.

videography

noun

The art and technology of producing moving (video) images on photosensitive surfaces, and its digital counterpart.

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.

vienne

name

A town and commune of Isère department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Viennese

adj

Of or relating to Vienna.

viera

name

An unincorporated community in Brevard County, Florida.

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.

viewership

noun

percentage of viewers that watched television programs or other video broadcasts.

viewfinder

noun

A device on a camera that shows what will appear in the field of view of the lens; it helps the user target a subject, zoom and focus the image.

viewing

noun

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

viewless

adj

Without a view.

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.

vigenary

adj

Synonym of vicenary, of, pertaining to, or based on the number twenty.

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.

vigilation

noun

Wakefulness, the action of staying awake, or the act of keeping a careful watch during the night.

vigilous

adj

Relating to observation or watching

Vigo

name

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

vigor

noun

Physical strength, energy and good health.

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.

vikki

name

A diminutive of the female given name Victoria, variant of Vicky, also used as a formal given name.

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.

vilification

noun

slanderous or malicious defamation; character assassination

vilify

verb

To say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.

vilipend

verb

To treat (something) as inconsequential or worthless; to despise, to look down on.

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.

villainhood

noun

The state of being a villain.

villainize

verb

To represent as a villain.

villainly

adj

Characteristic of a villain.

villainous

adj

Wicked, evil, or characteristic of a villain.

villainousness

noun

The state or condition of being villainous; wicked behaviour.

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.

villeinage

noun

The state of being a villein.

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.

vim

noun

Ready vitality and vigour.

Vin

name

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

vinaceous

adj

Containing wine.

vinaigrette

noun

A sauce, made of an acidic liquid such as vinegar or lemon juice; oil; and other ingredients, used as a salad dressing, or as a marinade for cold meats.

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."

vincible

adj

Capable of being defeated or overcome; assailable or vulnerable.

vinculum

noun

A bond or tie that unifies.

vindaloo

noun

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

vindicate

verb

To clear of an accusation, suspicion or criticism.

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.

vindicatorily

adv

In a vindicatory manner; in vindication of someone or something.

vindicatory

adj

Promoting or producing vindication.

vindictive

adj

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

vindictiveness

noun

The condition of being vindictive; a malevolent desire for revenge.