2 ADJ If you have a vague memory or idea of something, the memory or idea is not clear. □ They have only a vague idea of the amount of water available. □ Waite's memory of that first meeting was vague. ● vague|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Judith could vaguely remember her mother lying on the sofa.
3 ADJ If you are vague about something, you deliberately do not tell people much about it. □ [+ about ] He was vague, however, about just what U.S. forces might actually do. □ Democratic leaders under election pressure tend to respond with vague promises of action.
4 ADJ If you describe someone as vague , you mean that they do not seem to be thinking clearly. □ She had married a charming but rather vague Englishman. □ His eyes were always so vague when he looked at her.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If something such as a feeling is vague , you experience it only slightly. □ He was conscious of that vague feeling of irritation again.
6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A vague shape or outline is not clear and is therefore not easy to see. □ The bus was a vague shape in the distance. PRAGMATICS vagueness
In this dictionary, the label VAGUENESS indicates that you use the word or expression to show lack of certainty. People often use vague language to make statements 'softer', so that what they say does not appear too direct or too strongly stated. Examples of vague language are presumably…, Do you know what I mean?, kind of…, and sort of… .
vague|ly /ve I gli/
1 ADV [ADV adj] Vaguely means to some degree but not to a very large degree. □ The voice on the line was vaguely familiar, but Crook couldn't place it at first.
2 → see also vague
vain /ve I n/ (vainer , vainest )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A vain attempt or action is one that fails to achieve what was intended. □ The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule. ● vain|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He hunted vainly through his pockets for a piece of paper.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe a hope that something will happen as a vain hope, you mean that there is no chance of it happening. □ He glanced around in the vain hope that there were no witnesses. ● vain|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He then set out for Virginia for what he vainly hoped would be a peaceful retirement.
3 ADJ If you describe someone as vain , you are critical of their extreme pride in their own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy.
4 PHRASE If you do something in vain , you do not succeed in achieving what you intend. □ He stopped at the door, waiting in vain for her to acknowledge his presence.
5 PHRASE If you say that something such as someone's death, suffering, or effort was in vain , you mean that it was useless because it did not achieve anything. □ He wants the world to know his son did not die in vain.
vain|glo|ri|ous /ve I nglɔː riəs/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe someone as vainglorious , you are critical of them because they are very proud of what they have done and boast a lot about it. [LITERARY , DISAPPROVAL ]
val|ance /væ ləns/ (valances )
1 N‑COUNT A valance is a piece of cloth that hangs down over the sides of a bed in order to make it look nice.
2 N‑COUNT A valance is a long narrow piece of wood or fabric which is fitted at the top of a window for decoration and to hide the curtain rail. [AM ] in BRIT, use pelmet
vale /ve I l/ (vales ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] A vale is a valley. [LITERARY ] □ …a small vale, sheltering under mist-shrouded hills.
vale|dic|to|ri|an /væ l I d I ktɔː riən/ (valedictorians ) N‑COUNT A valedictorian is the student who has the highest marks in their class when they graduate from high school, college, or university, and who gives a speech at their graduation ceremony. [AM ]
val|edic|tory /væ l I d I ktəri/ (valedictories )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A valedictory speech, letter, or performance is one that is intended as a way of saying goodbye when someone leaves another person, a place, or a job. [FORMAL ] □ …Mr Walker, making his valedictory address after two years as chairman.
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A valedictory is a speech that is given by the student with the highest marks in their class at their graduation ceremony. [AM ]
val|en|tine /væ lənta I n/ (valentines ) N‑COUNT A valentine or a valentine card is a greetings card that you send to someone who you are in love with or are attracted to, usually without signing your name, on St Valentine's Day, the 14th of February.
val|et /væ le I , -l I t/ (valets , valeting , valeted )
1 N‑COUNT A valet is a male servant who looks after his employer by doing things such as caring for his clothes and cooking for him.
2 VERB If someone valets a vehicle, they are paid to clean it thoroughly inside and out.
val|iant /væ liənt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A valiant action is very brave and determined, though it may lead to failure or defeat. □ Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister, inflation rose to 36%. ● val|iant|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He suffered further heart attacks and strokes, all of which he fought valiantly.
val|id /væ l I d/
1 ADJ A valid argument, comment, or idea is based on sensible reasoning. □ They put forward many valid reasons for not exporting. ● va|lid|ity /væl I d I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] □ The editorial in the Financial Times says this argument has lost much of its validity.
2 ADJ Something that is valid is important or serious enough to make it worth saying or doing. □ Most designers share the unspoken belief that fashion is a valid form of visual art. ● va|lid|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the validity of making children wear cycle helmets.