English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

vincible

adj

Able to be defeated or beaten.

vinculum

noun

Something that binds or unites, a bond or tie.

vindaloo

noun

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

vindicate

verb

To free someone from 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 way that clears someone of blame or supports their case.

vindicatory

adj

Serving to clear someone of blame or support their case.

vindictive

adj

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

vindictiveness

noun

A strong wish to get revenge on someone.

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.

vinegaroon

noun

A scorpion-like creature that, when it feels in danger, can spray out a sharp-smelling acid.

vinegary

adj

Having a sharp, sour taste, like vinegar.

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."

vinous

adj

Relating to wine, or having qualities typical of it.

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.

vintry

noun

Somewhere that wine is sold.

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.

violable

adj

Able to be broken, ignored or harmed.

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.

viole

verb

(archaic) To attack or force oneself upon someone, in particular to rape them.

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.

violoncellist

noun

A person who plays the cello.

VIP

noun

A person who is given special treatment, privileged access or extra security because of their fame, wealth, rank or importance to an event.

viper

noun

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

viperish

adj

Behaving like a viper, a poisonous snake.

viperous

adj

Relating to a viper, a poisonous snake.

vipper

noun

Someone who posts on the /vip/ board of the Japanese website 2channel.

virago

noun

A woman who turns fiercely bad-tempered at the smallest cause.

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.

virgula

noun

A small, slender, straight-growing structure.

virgule

noun

An old punctuation mark, similar to a slash or upright bar, once used as a light comma or to mark a pause.

viridian

noun

A blue-green pigment made from a chromium compound.

viridity

noun

The quality of being green in colour.

virile

adj

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

virility

noun

Manly strength, vigor, or masculine character.

virology

noun

The branch of microbiology that studies viruses and the diseases they cause.

virtual

adj

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

virtual machine

noun

A complete computer created in software rather than hardware, running inside a real computer with its own operating system, memory and storage, and behaving as though it were a separate machine.

virtually

adv

Almost entirely; for all practical purposes.

virtue

noun

Moral goodness or excellence of character.

virtuosity

noun

Great skill and a polished style in performing something, especially music.

virtuoso

noun

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

virtuous

adj

Having strong moral character; morally good.

virtuousness

noun

The quality of behaving in a morally good way.

virulence

noun

The quality of being virulent.

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).

vis-à-vis

preposition

In relation to, or with regard to.

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).

visaged

adj

Possessing a particular kind of facial appearance.

viscacha

noun

Any of several rodent species from South America, found natively in the Andes Mountains, in the genera Lagidium and Lagostomus.

viscera

noun

The internal organs inside the chest and stomach area, such as the heart, liver and stomach.

visceral

adj

Relating to the internal organs of the body.

visceration

noun

A piece of raw meat, traditionally handed out when a rich man died.

visceroception

noun

A feeling of pain coming from the internal organs.

visceromegaly

noun

A medical condition in which organs in the abdomen become unusually large.

visceroptosis

noun

A condition in which the organs in the abdomen drop lower than they should be.

viscerosensory

adj

Relating to feelings that come from the internal organs.

viscid

adj

Thick and slow to flow, like a heavy liquid.

viscin

noun

A sticky substance taken from mistletoe sap, used to make glue for trapping birds.

viscoid

adj

Composed of viscoid (a powered amorphous form of cellulose).

viscomital

adj

Connected with a viscount.

Visconti

name

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

viscose

noun

A thick orange-brown liquid made by treating cellulose with chemicals, used to produce rayon and cellulose film.

viscosity

noun

How thick a liquid is and how strongly it resists flowing; honey has a high viscosity, water a low one.

viscotoxin

noun

Any of several proteins that mistletoe plants produce.

viscount

noun

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

viscountess

noun

A woman married to a viscount.

viscous

adj

Thick and sticky, flowing slowly rather than freely.

viscus

noun

Any of the major internal organs, such as the heart or stomach, especially those in the abdomen.

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.

visibleness

noun

The fact of being possible to see.

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.

visitant

noun

Someone who is visiting; a guest.

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.

visualisation

noun

A non-Oxford British English standard spelling of visualization.

visualise

verb

British spelling of visualize, used outside Oxford-style spelling conventions.

visualization

noun

The act of picturing something in the mind, or the mental image produced.

visualize

verb

To form a clear picture of something in your mind.

visually

adv

By or through sight.

vita

noun

A written account of a saint's life; a hagiography.

vital

adj

Absolutely necessary; essential to success or survival.

vitalic

adj

Connected with life; essential to being alive.

vitalise

verb

To bring something to life.

vitalism

noun

The belief that living things are driven by a special force that science cannot fully explain.

vitality

noun

Physical or mental energy and liveliness.

vitalize

verb

An American and Oxford British English standard spelling of vitalise.

vitalizer

noun

Something that gives energy or life to something else.

vitally

adv

To a critically important degree; essentially.

vitals

noun

The organs of the body essential for staying alive, such as the heart and lungs.

vitamer

noun

One of a group of related substances that together act as a vitamin.

vitamin

noun

One of a group of natural compounds the body needs in small amounts to grow, function, and stay healthy.

Vite

name

A surname of French or Italian origin.

vitellaria

noun

The shea tree, Vitellaria paradoxa.

vitellus

noun

The yolk, or contents, of an egg.

viti

name

The name of a language spoken in Nigeria.

vitiate

verb

To spoil something or lower its quality or usefulness.

vitiation

noun

A lowering in the value or quality of something.

vitiligo

noun

A skin condition causing pale patches where pigment is lost.

Vito

name

A masculine given name of Italian origin, meaning "life."

vitreous

adj

Looking like glass, or having a glass-like quality.

Vittoria

name

An Italian feminine given name meaning "victory."

vituperate

verb

To scold someone very harshly, often with insults.

vituperation

noun

The act of scolding someone very harshly.

vituperative

adj

Full of harsh, angry criticism, sometimes with ranting.

Viv

noun

A short, informal name for a vivarium, an enclosure for keeping small animals or reptiles.

viva

intj

Used to cheer or celebrate someone or something, meaning roughly "long live!"

vivacious

adj

Full of energy and enthusiasm; lively and animated.

vivacity

noun

The quality of being lively and full of energy.

Vivaldi

name

An Italian surname, best known as that of the Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi.