ven|om /ve nəm/ (venoms )
1 N‑UNCOUNT You can use venom to refer to someone's feelings of great bitterness and anger towards someone. □ [+ for ] He reserved particular venom for critics of his foreign policy.
2 N‑VAR The venom of a creature such as a snake or spider is the poison that it puts into your body when it bites or stings you. □ …snake handlers who grow immune to snake venom.
ven|om|ous /ve nəməs/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a person or their behaviour as venomous , you mean that they show great bitterness and anger towards someone. □ She has endured more sustained and venomous attacks than any woman politician.
2 ADJ A venomous snake, spider, or other creature uses poison to attack other creatures. □ The adder is Britain's only venomous snake.
ve|nous /viː nəs/ ADJ [ADJ n] Venous is used to describe something which is related to veins. [MEDICAL ] □ …venous blood.
vent /ve nt/ (vents , venting , vented )
1 N‑COUNT A vent is a hole in something through which air can come in and smoke, gas, or smells can go out. □ [+ in ] There was a small air vent in the ceiling.
2 VERB If you vent your feelings, you express them forcefully. □ [V n] She phoned her best friend to vent her frustration. □ [V n + on ] The rioters were prevented from venting their anger on the police.
3 PHRASE If you give vent to your feelings, you express them forcefully. [FORMAL ] □ She gave vent to her anger and jealousy.
ven|ti|late /ve nt I le I t/ (ventilates , ventilating , ventilated ) VERB If you ventilate a room or building, you allow fresh air to get into it. □ [V n] Ventilate the room properly when paint stripping. □ [V -ed] …badly ventilated rooms. ● ven|ti|la|tion /ve nt I le I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ The only ventilation comes from tiny sliding windows.
ven|ti|la|tor /ve nt I le I tə r / (ventilators )
1 N‑COUNT A ventilator is a machine that helps people breathe when they cannot breathe naturally, for example because they are very ill or have been seriously injured.
2 N‑COUNT A ventilator is a device that lets fresh air into a room or building and lets old or dirty air out.
ven|tri|cle /ve ntr I k ə l/ (ventricles ) N‑COUNT A ventricle is a part of the heart that pumps blood to the arteries. [MEDICAL ]
ven|trilo|quist /ventr I ləkw I st/ (ventriloquists ) N‑COUNT A ventriloquist is someone who can speak without moving their lips and who entertains people by making their words appear to be spoken by a puppet.
ven|ture ◆◇◇ /ve ntʃə r / (ventures , venturing , ventured )
1 N‑COUNT A venture is a project or activity which is new, exciting, and difficult because it involves the risk of failure. □ …his latest writing venture. □ Both parties sounded full of high hopes for their joint venture.
2 VERB If you venture somewhere, you go somewhere that might be dangerous. [LITERARY ] □ [V adv/prep] People are afraid to venture out for fear of sniper attacks.
3 VERB If you venture a question or statement, you say it in an uncertain way because you are afraid it might be stupid or wrong. [WRITTEN ] □ [V with quote] 'So you're Leo's girlfriend?' he ventured. □ [V that] He ventured that plants draw part of their nourishment from the air. □ [V n] Stephen ventured a few more sentences in halting Welsh.
4 VERB If you venture to do something that requires courage or is risky, you do it. □ [V to-inf] 'Don't ask,' he said, whenever Ginny ventured to raise the subject.
5 VERB If you venture into an activity, you do something that involves the risk of failure because it is new and different. □ [V + into ] He enjoyed little success when he ventured into business.
ve n|ture capi|tal N‑UNCOUNT Venture capital is capital that is invested in projects that have a high risk of failure, but that will bring large profits if they are successful. [BUSINESS ]
ve n|ture ca pi|tal|ist (venture capitalists ) N‑COUNT A venture capitalist is someone who makes money by investing in high risk projects. [BUSINESS ]
ven|ture|some /ve ntʃə r səm/ ADJ If you describe someone as venturesome , you mean that they are willing to take risks and try out new things. [FORMAL ] □ …the venturesome graduate who is determined to succeed.
venue ◆◇◇ /ve njuː/ (venues ) N‑COUNT The venue for an event or activity is the place where it will happen. □ [+ for ] The International Convention Centre is the venue for a three-day arts festival.
ve|rac|ity /vəræ s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Veracity is the quality of being true or the habit of telling the truth. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] We have total confidence in the veracity of our research.
ve|ran|da /vəræ ndə/ (verandas ) also verandah N‑COUNT A veranda is a roofed platform along the outside of a house.
verb /vɜː r b/ (verbs )
1 N‑COUNT A verb is a word such as 'sing', 'feel', or 'die' which is used with a subject to say what someone or something does or what happens to them, or to give information about them.
2 → see also phrasal verb
ver|bal /vɜː r b ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use verbal to indicate that something is expressed in speech rather than in writing or action. □ They were jostled and subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse. □ We have a verbal agreement with her. ● ver|bal|ly ADV □ Teachers were threatened with kitchen knives, physically assaulted and verbally abused.