1521
vain
V,v
V, v /vi:/ pl. V's, v's n 1 [C,U] the 22nd letter of the English alphabet 2 the number 5 in the system of ROMAN NUMERALS 3 [C usually sing.] something that has a shape like the letter V: She cut the material into a V. ➔ see also V-FORMATION, V-NECK, V-SIGN
v. /vi:/ 1 abbrev. for verb 2 BrE infml abbrev. for VERSUS (=against) used in the names of legal TRIALS, or in Britain when talking about games in which two teams or players play against each other: the Roe v. Wade case | England v Australia 3 written abbrev. for volt; or volts 4 abbrev. for very
VA n written abbrev. for VIRGINIA
VA, the /ˌvi: ˈeɪ/ n abbrev. for VETERANS AFFAIRS
vac /væk/ n BrE infml a university VACATION
Vac ➔ see SITUATIONS VACANT
va·can·cy /ˈvækənsi/ n 1 [C] an unfilled place, such as a hotel room that is not being used: 'Vacancies'/'No Vacancies' (sign on hotel) 2 [C] an unfilled job in a factory, office etc: We still have vacancies for drivers but all the other positions have been filled. 3 [U] derog emptiness of mind; lack of thought or interest
va·cant /ˈveɪkənt/ adj 1 (of a place or space, especially one that is usually filled or is intended to be filled) empty; not filled with anything: There's a vacant place over there where we can park. | a vacant house/room (=not lived in) | Is this seat vacant? 2 (of a job) not at present filled: The job was advertised in the 'Situations Vacant' column in the newspaper. 3 showing lack of interest or active or serious thought: He stared into space with a vacant expression on his face. —ly adv: He stared vacantly into space.
vacant 'lot n especially AmE an unused piece of land, especially in a city, with nothing built on it: dealing drugs from a vacant lot | a vacant lot between apartment buildings
vacant possession n [U] tech, BrE ownership of a home or other building whose previous owner or TENANT has left, and which the new owner can move into immediately: We will have vacant possession of the house.
va·cate /vəˈkeɪt, veɪ-ˈkeɪt/ v [T] fml to stop using, having, or living in: Guests must vacate their rooms by 11 o'clock. | He is expected to vacate his job soon.
va·ca·tion¹ /vəˈkeɪʃən||veɪ-/ n 1 [C] a) especially AmE a holiday: They're in Florida on vacation. b) especially BrE any of the periods of holiday when universities (or law courts) are closed ➔ see also LONG VACATION and see Feature on page A22
Compare holiday(s), vacation, and leave. Holiday is the general word in British English for a period of rest from work, although it is not usually used for a single day off from work (unless the day is given to everyone), and it is not usually used of the weekend. The plural holidays can be used of any of the longer periods of rest from work in a year (but not of a single day or weekend). The general word in American English is vacation: In this job you get four weeks holiday (BrE)/vacation (AmE) a year. | We're going to France during the summer holiday(s) (BrE)/vacation (AmE). In British English vacation is used for the period when universities are closed: The library is closed during the college vacation. Soldiers and people employed by the government go on leave and this word is also used in expressions like sick leave and leave of absence. ➔ see Cultural Note at HOLIDAY
2 [U oft] fml the act of vacating
vacation² v [(at, in)] especially AmE to have a holiday: vacationing in Europe
va·ca·tion·er /vəˈkeɪʃənər||veɪ-/ also va·ca·tion·ist /-ʃənɪst/ — n AmE for HOLIDAYMAKER
vac·cin·ate /ˈvæksɪneɪt/ v [T(against)] to put vaccine into the body of (someone), as a protection against a disease ➔ compare IMMUNIZE, INOCULATE —ation /ˌvæksɪˈneɪʃən/ n [C;U(against)]
vac·cine /ˈvæksiːn||vækˈsiːn/ n [C;U] a poisonous substance (containing a weak form of a VIRUS) used for protecting people against diseases: smallpox/polio vaccine ➔ compare SERUM
vac·il·late /ˈvæsɪleɪt/ v [(between)] usually derog to be continually changing from one opinion or feeling to another; be uncertain of what action to take: They vacillated for some while between the two courses of action. —lation /ˌvæsɪˈleɪʃən/ n [C;U]
va·cu·i·ty /vəˈkjuːɪti, væ-||væ-/ n [U] fml stupidity; vacuousness
vac·u·ous /ˈvækjuəs/ adj fml 1 showing no sign of ideas, thought, or feeling: a vacuous expression 2 without purpose; meaningless; empty: the vacuous life of many rich people —ly adv —ness n [U]
vac·u·um¹ /ˈvækjuəm, -kjʊm/ n 1 [C] a space that is completely empty of all gas, especially one from which all air has been taken away 2 [S] a feeling of emptiness or loss: Her death left a vacuum in his life. 3 in a vacuum existing completely separately from other things and having no relationship to them, often used in the negative: Company accountants often have to work in a vacuum. | The committee will not be making decisions in a vacuum; it will call witnesses and examine documents. | Like any social problem, drug abuse does not exist in a vacuum.
vacuum² v [T(OUT)] infml to clean (a house, room, floor etc) with a vacuum cleaner
ˈvacuum cleaner also Hoover BrE trademark || also vacuum n an electric apparatus which cleans floors and floor coverings by sucking up the dirt from them ➔ compare CARPET SWEEPER
ˈvacuum flask usually ˈvacuum bottle AmE — n a FLASK
ˈvacuum-packed /ˌ... .../ adj (especially of food offered for sale in shops) packed in a wrapping from which most of the air has been removed so that the food will remain fresh: vacuum-packed kippers/salami
ˈvacuum pump n a pump for removing air or gas from an enclosed space
ˈvacuum tube n AmE VALVE
vag·a·bond /ˈvæɡəbɒnd||-bɑːnd/ n especially lit a person who has no home and travels from place to place, especially one who is thought to be lazy or worthless ➔ compare VAGRANT
va·ga·ry /ˈveɪɡəri/ n [often pl.] any of a set of unusual or unexpected events or changes that have an effect on one: the vagaries of love/of human nature
va·gi·na /vəˈdʒaɪnə/ n the passage which leads from the outer sex organs of women or female animals, to the organ (WOMB) in which young are formed —nal /vəˈdʒaɪnl||vædʒəˈnæl/ adj
va·gran·cy /ˈveɪɡrənsi/ n [U] the state or offence of being a vagrant
va·grant /ˈveɪɡrənt/ n fml or law a person who has no home or regular work, especially one who is poor and begs ➔ compare VAGABOND
vague /veɪɡ/ adj 1 not clear in shape or form; INDISTINCT: On the hillside, we could see the vague shapes of sheep coming through the mist. 2 not clearly described, expressed, known, or established: Our holiday plans are still rather vague. | vague promises of support | vague rumours of an election | I haven't the vaguest idea (=I don't know at all) who she is. 3 unable to think or express oneself clearly: She's so vague that I can never understand what she's trying to say. —ly adv —ness n [U]
Vail /veɪl/ a city in Colorado in the western US, which is a popular place and fashionable for skiing (SKI)
vain /veɪn/ adj 1 derog full of self-admiration; thinking too highly of one's appearance, abilities etc; CONCEITED 2 without result; unsuccessful: a vain attempt to make him change his mind 3 especially old use or lit without meaning or value; empty: vain threats/promises 4 in vain uselessly; without a successful result: We tried in vain to make him change his mind. ➔ see also VANITY, take someone's name in vain (NAME) —ly adv: We tried vainly to persuade her not to go.