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for example a GERUND, INFINITIVE, or PARTICIPLE 2 [U] infml criticism, complaints, or an attack that you express in speech: Maria was getting loads of verbal from her staff.
verb-al-ize also -ise BrE /'v3:bəlaız||'v3:r-/ v [I;T] fml to express (something) in words: He couldn't verbalize his fears.
verb-al-ly /'v3:bəli||'v3:r-/ adv in spoken words and not in writing
verbal 'noun also gerund n a noun which describes an action or experience and has the form of a PRESENT PARTICIPLE: 'Building' is a verbal noun in 'The building of the bridge was slow work', but simply a noun in 'The bank was a tall building'. -> compare PRESENT PARTICIPLE
ver-ba-tim /v3:'beıtım||v3:r-/ adj, adv repeating the actual words exactly: a verbatim account of the conversation | His memory was so good that he could repeat several of Shakespeare's plays verbatim.
ver-bi-age /'v3:bi-ıd3||'v3:r-/ n [U] fml too many unnecessary words in speech or writing
ver-bose /v3:'bəʊs||v3:r-/ adj fml using or containing too many words: a verbose sermon/explanation -> compare VERBAL, VOLUBLE —ly adv —ness, -bosity /'bɒsıti||'ba:-/ n [U]
ver-bo-ten /fə'bəʊtən||fər-/ adj Ger not allowed; forbidden: Being impolite to grown-ups was absolutely verboten in our household.
ver-dant /'v3:dənt||'v3:r-/ adj lit or poet (of land) covered with freshly growing green plants or grass: the verdant landscape of spring —dancy n [U]
Ver-di, Giu-sep-pe /'veədii||'veər-, d3u'zepi/ (1813-1901) an Italian COMPOSER best known for his Requiem and for his OPERAS, including La Traviata, Aida, and Rigoletto
ver-dict /'v3:dıkt||'v3:r-/ n 1 the official decision a) made by a JURY in a court of law at the end of a trial, especially about whether the prisoner is guilty or not guilty: The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of guilty. | to fail to reach a verdict | a majority verdict of 10 to 2 -> see Feature on page A23 b) made by an official or an official body, such as a TRIBUNAL: The panel will be giving their verdict tomorrow. | the coroner's verdict -> see also OPEN VERDICT 2 [(on)] infml a statement of opinion; judgment or decision given on any matter: What's your verdict on the film?
ver-di-gris /'v3:dıgrıs, -gri:s||'v3:r-/ n [U] a greenish-blue substance which forms a thin covering on articles of copper or brass as a result of age or wet conditions
ver-dure /'v3:d3ə||'v3:r-/ n [U] lit or poet (the fresh green colour of) growing grass, plants, trees etc
verge¹ /v3:d3||v3:r:d3/ n 1 the edge or border, especially of a road, path etc: She walked along the grass verge, trying not to step into the road. 2 on the verge of very near to (the stated condition or action): She was on the verge of tears. (=nearly crying) | scientists on the verge of a major breakthrough
verge² v
verge on/upon sthg. phr v [T] to be near to (the stated quality or condition): Her strange behaviour sometimes verges on madness. | very dark grey, verging on black
ver-ger /'v3:d3ə||'v3:r-/ n especially BrE a person who looks after the inside of a church, and performs small duties such as showing worshippers where they may sit
Ver-gil /'v3:d3ı||'v3:r-/ VIRGIL
ver-i-fy /'verıfaı/ v [T] to make certain that (a fact, statement etc) is correct or true; CONFIRM: The prisoner's statement was verified by several witnesses. | These details are impossible to verify. || [+that] Before the bank was willing to lend him money, it had to verify that he was the true owner of the house. —-fiable adj —-fication /,verıfı'keıfən/ n [U]
ver-i-ly /'verılı/ adv bibl or old use really; truly
ver-i-si-mil-i-tude /,verısı'mılıtju:dıl-tu:d/ n [U] fml the quality of seeming to be true; likeness to reality or real things
ver-i-ta-ble /'verıtəbəl/ adj [A] fml (used to give force to an expression) that may truly be described as or compared to the stated thing; real: Thank you for that lovely meal; it was a veritable feast! —bly adv
ver-i-ty /'verıtı/ n [usually pl.] fml or lit an accepted truth; general law or truth on which religious teachings, standards of right behaviour etc, are based: one of the eternal verities
Ver-laine, Paul /veə'leın||vər-/ (1844-96) a French poet whose works include Romances sans paroles and who is known for his relationship with the poet Arthur RIMBAUD
Ver-meer, Jan /və'mıə||vər-, jæn/ (1632-75) a Dutch painter who painted ordinary scenes from daily life, and is known especially for his pictures of rooms, often with one woman in them
ver-mi-cel-li /v3:mı'seli, -'tfeli||v3:r-/ n [U] Italian PASTA (=food made from a mixture of flour and water) in the shape of very thin strings, cooked in boiling water -> compare MACARONI, SPAGHETTI, TAGLIATELLE; see picture at PASTA
ver-mic-u-lite /v3:mıkjʊlaıt||v3:r-/ n [U] a type of MICA that is very light and is used for keeping heat inside buildings, growing seeds in etc
ver-mi-form ap-pen-dix /v3:mıfɔ:m ə'pendıks||v3:rmı-fɔ:rm-/ n med for APPENDIX
ver-mil-ion /və'mılıən||vər-/ adj, n [U] (having a) bright reddish-orange colour
ver-min /'v3:mın||'v3:r-/ n [P] 1 small animals or birds that destroy crops, spoil food, or do other damage, and are difficult to control: To a farmer, foxes are vermin because they steal and kill chickens. -> compare PEST 2 unpleasant biting insects, such as FLEAS, LICE etc, that live on people's or animals' bodies, usually by drinking their blood 3 useless unpleasant people who are a trouble to society: He thinks all beggars are vermin.
ver-min-ous /'v3:mınəs||'v3:r-/ adj 1 full of VERMIN: the tramp's verminous old coat 2 derog (of a person) very unpleasant; nasty
Ver-mont /və'mont||vər'ma:nt/ written abbrev. VT a state in the northeastern US, which is part of New England. Vermont produces many minerals, and also MAPLE SYRUP, and attracts many visitors for skiing (SKI), hunting, and fishing. -> see also Cultural Note at NEW ENGLAND
ver-mouth /'v3:məθ||vər'mu:θ/ n [U] a drink made from wine with the addition of bitter or strong-tasting substances from roots and HERBS. It is usually drunk before a meal or in a COCKTAIL.
ver-nac-u-lar /və'nækjʊlə||vər-/ n [C; the+S] the language spoken in a country or region, especially as compared with the official language: When he talked to the local people he lapsed into (=went back to) the vernacular. —vernacular adj: The Roman Catholic Church now uses vernacular services instead of Latin ones.
ver-nal /'v3:nəl||'v3:rnl/ adj lit or tech [A] of, like, or appearing in the spring season
Verne, Jules /v3:n||v3:rn, d3u:lz/ (1828-1905) a French writer who wrote SCIENCE FICTION. His most famous books are Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Around the World in Eighty Days.
ver-ru-ca /və'ru:kə/ usually wart AmE — n pl. -cas or -cae /ki:/ a small hard often infectious growth on the skin, usually on the bottom of the feet
ver-sa /'v3:səl-3:r-/ -> see VICE VERSA
Ver-sace /veə'sɑ:tʃ||veər-/ a fashion company that was begun in 1978 by Gianni Versace. It produces very fashionable and expensive clothes. Gianni Versace was murdered in 1997, after which his sister Donatella took charge of the fashion part of the business.
Versace, Gian-ni /'d3æni||'d3ɑ:-/ (1946-97) an Italian fashion designer, known for making expensive clothes which are especially popular with rich younger people. He was murdered in Miami, in Florida, by a SERIAL KILLER and many famous people went to his funeral.
Ver-sailles /veə'saı||veər-/ a beautiful PALACE with gardens outside the city of Versailles near Paris, France. It was built for King LOUIS XIV and is now owned by the French state. Several peace agreements were signed there, including the one which formally ended World War I. -> see also TREATY OF VERSAILLES
ver-sa-tile /'v3:saıtaıl||'v3:rsətıl/ adj apprec 1 having many different kinds of skill or ability; easily able to change from one kind of activity to another: a very versatile performer/ campaign strategy 2 having many different uses: Nylon is a versatile material. —tility /,v3:sə'tılıtı||,v3:r-/ n [U]
verse /v3:s||v3:rs/ n 1 [U] writing arranged in regular lines, with a pattern of repeated beats as in music, and often with RHYMES (=words of matching sound) at the end of some