versed
1530
lines; language in the form of poetry → compare PROSE; see
also BLANK VERSE, FREE VERSE 2 [C] a) a set of lines of
poetry which forms one part of a poem, and usually has a
pattern that is repeated in the other parts: I learned three
verses of the poem. b) a set of such lines forming the words
to which the tune of a song is sung: Let's sing the last verse.
→ compare CHORUS 3 [C] any of the numbered (groups of)
sentences that together form one numbered division (CHAP-
TER) of a holy book, especially one of the books of the Bible →
see also CHAPTER AND VERSE
versed /vɜːrst||vɜːrst/ adj [F+n] fml possessing a thorough
knowledge of or skill in a subject, an art etc; experienced:
After ten years as an ambassador, she is well versed in the
arts of diplomacy.
ver·si·fi·ca·tion /ˌvɜːsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən||vɜːr-/ n [U] tech the par-
ticular pattern or way in which a poem is written
ver·sion /ˈvɜːʃən||ˈvɜːrʒən/ n [(of)] 1 a slightly different
form, copy, or style of an article: This dress is a cheaper
version of the one we saw in that shop. 2 one person's
account of an event, especially as compared with that of
another person: The two newspapers gave different versions of
what happened. | the accepted version of events | earlier/later
versions 3 a form of a written or musical work that exists in
more than one form: Did you read the whole book or only the
abridged version? | an English version (=translation) of a
German play → see also AUTHORIZED VERSION, KING JAMES
VERSION, REVISED STANDARD VERSION, REVISED VERSION
ver·so /ˈvɜːsə||ˈvɜr-/ adj, n pl. -sos [A;C] tech (being) a
left-hand page of a book: written on the verso (side) →
compare RECTO
ver·sus /ˈvɜːsəs||ˈvɜːr-/ prep against; in opposition to: The
Finance Minister has to weigh up the benefits of tax cuts
versus those of increased public spending. | It's going to be
Mexico versus Holland in the final.
ver·te·bra /ˈvɜːtɪbrə||ˈvɜːr-/ n pl. -brae /briː, breɪ/ any of
the small hollow bones down the centre of the back which
form the BACKBONE —bral adj → see picture at SKELETON
ver·te·brate /ˈvɜːtɪbrət, -breɪt||ˈvɜːr-/ n tech a living crea-
ture which has a BACKBONE: Fish, birds, and human beings
are vertebrates. → compare INVERTEBRATE —vertebrate adj
ver·tex /ˈvɜːteks||ˈvɜːr-/ n pl. -texes or -tices /ˈtɪsiːz/ [(of)]
tech 1 a) the angle opposite the base of a figure such as a
PYRAMID, CONE, TRIANGLE etc b) the meeting point of the
two lines of an angle 2 the highest point: the vertex of an
arch
ver·ti·cal /ˈvɜːtɪkəl||ˈvɜːr-/ adj forming an angle of 90
degrees with the level ground, or with a straight line in a
figure; upright: blue and green vertical stripes | a vertical
line | The northern face of the mountain is almost vertical. | A
vertical takeoff aircraft is one that can rise straight from the
ground. → compare HORIZONTAL —ly /kli/ adv
'vertical file n [usually S] AmE a place in a library where
printed materials are kept that do not form part of the
regular collection: We keep pamphlets and news releases in
the vertical file.
ver·ti·g·i·nous /vɜːˈtɪdʒənəs||vɜːr-/ adj fml causing or suffer-
ing from vertigo, especially by being at great height above
the ground: vertiginous heights
ver·ti·go /ˈvɜːtɪgəʊ||ˈvɜːr-/ n [U] a feeling of great unsteadi-
ness, as though one's head were spinning round, often also
with a sensation of sickness and faintness, and caused usually
by looking down from a great height: He suffers from vertigo.
verve /vɜːv||vɜːrv/ n [U] apprec a strong feeling of life, force,
and eager enjoyment, expressed through some activity or
shown in some form of art: He's a poor singer, but we had to
admire the sheer verve of his performance.
Verve, The a British ROCK GROUP from the 1990s whose
songs included All in the Mind, Bittersweet Symphony, and The
Drugs Don't Work
ve·ry¹ /ˈveri/ adv 1 (used for giving force to an expression)
especially; to a great degree: a very good cake | a very exciting
book | It's very warm today. | I feel very tired after all that
effort. | We must remember the very real problems of young
people today. | The traffic is moving very slowly. | She was very
nearly killed. | Thanks very much. | I feel very much better
today. | His new book's very much the same as his last one. | I
very much hope you'll be able to come. | That was very kind of
you. 2 (used for giving force to superlative adjectives or to
own or same) in the greatest possible degree: The cake ought
to be good – I used the very best ingredients. | This is the very
last time I offer to help you. | He could have warned you he was
coming, at the very least. | You're a lucky boy to have your very
own boat. | two accidents in the very same place 3 not
very a) in no way; exactly the opposite of: The teacher
wasn't very pleased (=was angry) when he found a dead mouse
on his desk. b) only slightly; to a small degree: 'Was the play
interesting?' 'Not very.' → see also very good (GOOD), very
well (WELL); see MOST (USAGE), QUITE (USAGE)
very² adj [A] (used for giving force to an expression) actual:
This is the very pen he used when he was writing the book. | He
used this very pen. | I'll go this very minute. (=at once) | They
say he died in very bed. | I found it at the very bottom
(=right at the bottom) of the box. | She died at the very height
of her fame. | The very thought of (=even thinking about) that
terrible meal makes me feel sick. | Of course you can't go on
your own. The very idea! (=expresses surprise or shock) |
This little tool is the very thing for turning stiff taps. (=it
does it very well)
very high 'frequency n [U] (often cap.) → see VHF
Ver·y light /ˈvɪəri laɪt||ˌveəri ˈlaɪt, ˌvɪəri-/ trademark a bright
light produced by a kind of burning bullet that is fired into
the air as a signal that a ship needs help
'Very pistol /ˈvɪəri ˌpɪstəl||ˈvɪri ˌpɪstəl/ n the gun from which a Very light is
shot
Very Rev·e·rend /ˌveri rɪvˈərɛnd/ n [the] a title of respect
used before the name of a Christian priest of high rank, such
as a DEAN: the Very Reverend Charles Fletcher
ves·i·cle /ˈvesɪkəl/ n med a small hollow part in an organ or
other bodily part, or a small swelling on the skin, usually
filled with liquid
ve·sic·u·lar /vəˈsɪkjʊlər/ adj med of or marked by the forma-
tion of vesicles
ves·pers /ˈvɛspəz||-ərz/ n [U+sing./pl. v] (often cap.) (in some
branches of the Christian church) the evening service, espe-
cially EVENSONG → compare COMPLINE, EVENSONG
Ves·puc·ci, A·mer·i·go /veˈspuːtʃi, æˈmɛrɪɡəʊ/ (1454–
1512) an Italian sailor and EXPLORER who sailed to the
Caribbean Sea and South America and discovered the place
where the Amazon River flows into the sea. The name
'America' comes from his name.
ves·sel /ˈvɛsəl/ n 1 fml a ship or large boat, especially of the
stated kind: a French naval vessel in the harbour | a fishing
vessel | a motor vessel 2 fml or old use a usually round con-
tainer, such as a pot, cup, or barrel, used especially for
holding liquids: a drinking vessel 3 tech a tube, such as a
VEIN, that carries blood or other liquid through the body, or
plant juice (SAP) through a plant → see also BLOOD VESSEL
USAGE Vessel meaning 'ship' is formal or literary. The more
ordinary words are ship or boat. → see also BOAT
(USAGE)
vest¹ /vɛst/ n BrE, 1 || undershirt AmE — a short undergar-
ment, usually without coverings for the arms, worn on the
upper part of the body: a string vest 2 a similar garment
worn to protect the body: The policeman survived because of
his bulletproof vest. 3 AmE for WAISTCOAT
vest² v
vest in phr v [T] fml 1 [usually pass.] (vest sthg. in sbdy.) to
give the official and legal right to possess or use (power,
property etc) to: In most countries the right to make new laws
is vested in the people's representatives. 2 [no pass.] (vest in
sbdy./sthg.) (of power, property etc) to belong by right to: In
former times this power vested in the Church.
vest sbdy. with sthg. phr v [T usually pass.] fml to give
(someone) the official and legal right to possess or use
(power, property etc)
ves·tal vir·gin /ˌvɛstl ˈvɜːdʒɪn||vɜːr-/ n 1 any of the young
unmarried women whose duty was to keep the holy fire
always burning in the temple of Vesta, the Roman goddess
of the house 2 infml derog a woman who will not have sex
vested 'interest n [(in)] often derog a share or right already
held in something, that is of advantage to the holder: It was
difficult to end the system of slavery because many powerful
people had a vested interest in keeping it.