va|ca|tion|er /ve I ke I ʃənə r / (vacationers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Vacationers are people who are on vacation in a particular place. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use holidaymakers
vac|ci|nate /væ ks I ne I t/ (vaccinates , vaccinating , vaccinated ) VERB [usu passive] If a person or animal is vaccinated , they are given a vaccine, usually by injection, to prevent them from getting a disease. □ [be V -ed + against ] Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper. □ [have n V -ed against n] Have you had your child vaccinated against whooping cough? □ [be/get V -ed] Measles is spreading again because children are not being vaccinated. ● vac|ci|na|tion /væ ks I ne I ʃ ə n/ (vaccinations ) N‑VAR □ Parents were too frightened to bring their children for vaccination. □ Anyone who wants to avoid the flu should consider getting a vaccination.
vac|cine /væ ksiːn, [AM ] væksiː n/ (vaccines ) N‑VAR A vaccine is a substance containing a harmless form of the germs that cause a particular disease. It is given to people, usually by injection, to prevent them getting that disease. □ Anti-malarial vaccines are now undergoing trials. □ Fortunately there are two types of vaccine against the disease.
vac|il|late /væ s I le I t/ (vacillates , vacillating , vacillated ) VERB If you vacillate between two alternatives or choices, you keep changing your mind. [FORMAL ] □ [V + between ] She vacillates between men twice her age and men younger than herself. □ [+ on , V ] We cannot vacillate on the question of the party's leadership.
va|cu|ity /vækjuː I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] If you refer to the vacuity of something or someone, you are critical of them because they lack intelligent thought or ideas. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ His vacuity was a handicap in these debates. □ …a campaign notable for its intellectual vacuity and personal nastiness.
vacu|ous /væ kjuəs/ ADJ If you describe a person or their comments as vacuous , you are critical of them because they lack intelligent thought or ideas. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Male models are not always so vacuous as they are made out to be.
vacuum /væ kjuːm, -juːəm/ (vacuums , vacuuming , vacuumed )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone or something creates a vacuum , they leave a place or position which then needs to be filled by another person or thing. □ His presence should fill the power vacuum which has been developing over the past few days.
2 PHRASE If something is done in a vacuum , it is not affected by any outside influences or information. □ Moral values cannot be taught in a vacuum.
3 VERB If you vacuum something, you clean it using a vacuum cleaner. □ [V n] I vacuumed the carpets today. □ [V ] It's important to vacuum regularly.
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A vacuum is a space that contains no air or other gas.
va cuum bot|tle (vacuum bottles ) N‑COUNT A vacuum bottle is the same as a vacuum flask . [AM ]
va cuum clean|er (vacuum cleaners ) also vacuum-cleaner N‑COUNT A vacuum cleaner or a vacuum is an electric machine which sucks up dust and dirt from carpets.
va cuum flask (vacuum flasks ) N‑COUNT A vacuum flask is a container which is used to keep hot drinks hot or cold drinks cold. It has two thin silvery glass walls with a vacuum between them. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use Thermos , vacuum bottle
va cuum-pa cked ADJ Food that is vacuum-packed is packed in a bag from which most of the air has been removed, in order to keep the food fresh.
vaga|bond /væ gəbɒnd/ (vagabonds ) N‑COUNT A vagabond is someone who wanders from place to place and has no home or job. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
va|gary /ve I gəri/ (vagaries ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Vagaries are unexpected and unpredictable changes in a situation or in someone's behaviour which you have no control over. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the perplexing vagaries of politics.
va|gi|na /vədʒa I nə/ (vaginas ) N‑COUNT A woman's vagina is the passage connecting her outer sex organs to her womb.
vagi|nal /vədʒa I n ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Vaginal means relating to or involving the vagina. □ The creams have been used to reduce vaginal infections.
va|gran|cy /ve I grənsi/ N‑UNCOUNT Vagrancy is a way of life in which someone moves a lot from place to place because they have no permanent home or job, and have to ask for or steal things in order to live. □ Vagrancy and begging has become common-place in London.
va|grant /ve I grənt/ (vagrants ) N‑COUNT A vagrant is someone who moves a lot from place to place because they have no permanent home or job, and have to ask for or steal things in order to live. □ He lived on the street as a vagrant.
vague /ve I g/ (vaguer , vaguest )
1 ADJ If something written or spoken is vague , it does not explain or express things clearly. □ The description was pretty vague. □ …vague information. ● vague|ly ADV □ 'I'm not sure,' Liz said vaguely. □ They issued a vaguely worded statement. ● vague|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the vagueness of the language in the text.