vat /væ t/ (vats ) N‑COUNT A vat is a large barrel or tank in which liquids can be stored.
VAT ◆◇◇ /viː e I tiː , væ t/ N‑UNCOUNT VAT is a tax that is added to the price of goods or services. VAT is an abbreviation for 'value added tax'. [BRIT ]
Vati|can /væ t I kən/ N‑PROPER [N n] The Vatican is the city state in Rome ruled by the Pope which is the centre of the Roman Catholic Church. You can also use the Vatican to refer to the Pope or his officials. □ The President had an audience with the Pope in the Vatican.
vat|man /væ tmæn/ also VAT man N‑SING You can refer to the government department which advises and checks the accounts of people who have to pay VAT as the vatman . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ If you have had a problem with the vatman, let us know.
vau|de|ville /vɔː dəv I l/ N‑UNCOUNT Vaudeville is a type of entertainment consisting of short acts such as comedy, singing, and dancing. Vaudeville was especially popular in the early part of the twentieth century. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use music hall
vault /vɔː lt/ (vaults , vaulting , vaulted )
1 N‑COUNT A vault is a secure room where money and other valuable things can be kept safely. □ Most of the money was in storage in bank vaults.
2 N‑COUNT A vault is a room underneath a church or in a cemetery where people are buried, usually the members of a single family. □ He ordered that Matilda's body should be buried in the family vault.
3 N‑COUNT A vault is an arched roof or ceiling. □ [+ of ] …the vault of a great cathedral.
4 VERB If you vault something or vault over it, you jump quickly onto or over it, especially by putting a hand on top of it to help you balance while you jump. □ [V n] He could easily vault the wall. □ [V prep] Ned vaulted over a fallen tree.
vaunt|ed /vɔː nt I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as vaunted or much vaunted , you mean that people praise it more than it deserves. [FORMAL ] □ Simpson's much vaunted discoveries are in fact commonplace in modern sociology.
vb Vb is a written abbreviation for verb .
VC /viː siː / (VCs )
1 N‑COUNT The VC is a medal awarded to soldiers, sailors, and airmen in Britain and the Commonwealth for acts of great bravery in battle. VC is an abbreviation for 'Victoria Cross'. ● N‑COUNT A VC is a soldier who has been awarded a Victoria Cross. □ Aren't you the boy whose father was a VC in the war?
2 VC is a written abbreviation for vice-chancellor .
VCR /viː siː ɑː r / (VCRs ) N‑COUNT A VCR is a machine that was used in the past to record television programmes or films onto videotape, so that people could play them back and watch them later on a television set. VCR is an abbreviation for 'video cassette recorder'.
VD /viː diː / N‑UNCOUNT VD is used to refer to diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhoea which are passed on by sexual intercourse. VD is an abbreviation for 'venereal disease'.
VDT /viː diː tiː / (VDTs ) N‑COUNT A VDT is the same as a VDU . VDT is an abbreviation for 'visual display terminal'. [mainly AM ]
VDU /viː diː juː / (VDUs ) N‑COUNT A VDU is a machine with a screen which is used to display information from a computer. VDU is an abbreviation for 'visual display unit'. [BRIT ] in AM, use VDT
-'ve /- ə v/ 've is the usual spoken form of 'have', especially when 'have' is an auxiliary verb. It is added to the end of the pronoun which is the subject of the verb. For example, 'you have' can be shortened to 'you've'.
veal /viː l/ N‑UNCOUNT Veal is meat from a calf.
vec|tor /ve ktə r / (vectors )
1 N‑COUNT A vector is a variable quantity, such as force, that has size and direction. [TECHNICAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A vector is an insect or other organism that causes a disease by carrying a germ or parasite from one person or animal to another. [MEDICAL ]
veep /viː p/ (veeps ) N‑COUNT A veep is a vice-president, especially the vice-president of the United States. [AM , INFORMAL ]
veer /v I ə r / (veers , veering , veered )
1 VERB If something veers in a certain direction, it suddenly moves in that direction. □ [V prep/adv] The plane veered off the runway and careered through the perimeter fence.
2 VERB If someone or something veers in a certain direction, they change their position or direction in a particular situation. □ [V prep/adv] He is unlikely to veer from his boss's strongly held views.
veg /ve dʒ/ (veg ) N‑VAR Veg are plants such as cabbages, potatoes, and onions which you can cook and eat. Veg is an abbreviation for 'vegetables'. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …fruit and veg. in AM, usually use veggies
ve|gan /viː gən/ (vegans ) ADJ Someone who is vegan never eats meat or any animal products such as milk, butter, or cheese. □ The menu changes weekly and usually includes a vegan option. ● N‑COUNT A vegan is someone who is vegan.
veg|eburg|er /ve dʒibɜː r gə r / (vegeburgers ) also veggieburger N‑COUNT Vegeburgers are flat round cakes of food made from vegetables mixed with flour and flavourings. You grill or fry them.
veg|eta|ble ◆◇◇ /ve dʒtəb ə l/ (vegetables )
1 N‑COUNT Vegetables are plants such as cabbages, potatoes, and onions which you can cook and eat. □ A good general diet should include plenty of fresh vegetables. □ …vegetable soup.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Vegetable matter comes from plants. [FORMAL ] □ …compounds, of animal, vegetable or mineral origin. COLLOCATIONS vegetable NOUN 1