van|ity /væ n I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to someone's vanity , you are critical of them because they take great pride in their appearance or abilities. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Men who use steroids are motivated by sheer vanity.
van|quish /væ ŋkw I ʃ/ (vanquishes , vanquishing , vanquished ) VERB To vanquish someone means to defeat them completely in a battle or a competition. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] A happy ending is only possible because the hero has first vanquished the dragons.
van|tage point /vɑː nt I dʒ pɔ I nt, væ nt-/ (vantage points )
1 N‑COUNT A vantage point is a place from which you can see a lot of things. □ From a concealed vantage point, he saw a car arrive.
2 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] If you view a situation from a particular vantage point , you have a clear understanding of it because of the particular period of time you are in. □ From today's vantage point, the 1987 crash seems just a blip in the upward progress of the market.
vape /ve I p/ (vapes , vaping , vaped )
1 VERB If someone vapes , they breathe in a flavoured steam containing nicotine from a special device, instead of smoking burning tobacco in a cigarette or pipe. □ [V ] Some airports allow travellers to vape; some do not.
2 N‑COUNT A vape is a device that produces flavoured steam containing nicotine. □ He smokes as well as using a vape.
vap|id /væ p I d/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as vapid , you are critical of them because they are dull and uninteresting. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the Minister's young and rather vapid daughter. □ She made a vapid comment about the weather.
vap|ing /ve I p I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Vaping is the act or habit of breathing in a flavoured steam containing nicotine from a special device. □ Vaping can be a really effective way to quit smoking.
va|por /ve I pə r / → see vapour
va|por|ize /ve I pəra I z/ (vaporizes , vaporizing , vaporized ) in BRIT, also use vaporise VERB If a liquid or solid vaporizes or if you vaporize it, it changes into vapour or gas. □ [V ] The benzene vaporized and formed a huge cloud of gas. □ [V n] The blast may have vaporised the meteorite.
va|pour /ve I pə r / (vapours ) in AM, use vapor N‑VAR Vapour consists of tiny drops of water or other liquids in the air, which appear as mist. □ …water vapour.
va |pour trail (vapour trails ) in AM, use vapor trail N‑COUNT A vapour trail is a white line of water vapour left in the sky by an aeroplane, a rocket, or a missile.
vari|able /veə riəb ə l/ (variables )
1 ADJ Something that is variable changes quite often, and there usually seems to be no fixed pattern to these changes. □ The potassium content of foodstuffs is very variable. □ …a variable rate of interest. ● vari|abil|ity /veə riəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ between ] There's a great deal of variability between individuals.
2 N‑COUNT A variable is a factor that can change in quality, quantity, or size, which you have to take into account in a situation. □ Decisions could be made on the basis of price, delivery dates, or any other variable.
3 N‑COUNT A variable is a quantity that can have any one of a set of values. [TECHNICAL ] □ It is conventional to place the independent variable on the right-hand side of an equation.
vari|ance /veə riəns/ (variances )
1 PHRASE If one thing is at variance with another, the two things seem to contradict each other. [FORMAL ] □ [+ with ] Many of his statements were at variance with the facts.
2 N‑VAR The variance between things is the difference between them. [FORMAL ] □ [+ in ] …the variances in the stock price.
vari|ant /veə riənt/ (variants ) N‑COUNT A variant of a particular thing is something that has a different form to that thing, although it is related to it. □ [+ of ] The quagga was a strikingly beautiful variant of the zebra.
vari|ation /veə rie I ʃ ə n/ (variations )
1 N‑COUNT A variation on something is the same thing presented in a slightly different form. □ [+ on ] This delicious variation on an omelette is quick and easy to prepare.
2 N‑VAR A variation is a change or slight difference in a level, amount, or quantity. □ [+ in ] The survey found a wide variation in the prices charged for canteen food. □ Every day without variation my grandfather ate a plate of cold ham.
vari|cose vein /væ r I koʊs ve I n/ (varicose veins ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Varicose veins are swollen and painful veins in a person's legs, which sometimes require a medical operation.
var|ied /veə rid/
1 ADJ Something that is varied consists of things of different types, sizes, or qualities. □ It is essential that your diet is varied and balanced.
2 → see also vary
varie|gat|ed /veə riəge I t I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A variegated leaf or plant has different colours on it. [TECHNICAL ] □ The leaves are a variegated red.
2 ADJ Something that is variegated consists of many different parts or types. [FORMAL ] □ …our variegated dialects.
va|ri|ety ◆◆◇ /vəra I I ti/ (varieties )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If something has variety , it consists of things which are different from each other. □ [+ in ] Susan's idea of freedom was to have variety in her lifestyle.