6 ADJ [ADJ n] You use very with nouns to emphasize the importance or seriousness of what you are saying. [EMPHASIS ] □ At one stage, his very life was in danger. □ This act undermines the very basis of our democracy. □ History is taking place before your very eyes.
7 PHRASE The expression very much so is an emphatic way of answering 'yes' to something or saying that it is true or correct. [EMPHASIS ] □ 'Are you enjoying your holiday?'—'Very much so.'
8 CONVENTION Very well is used to say that you agree to do something or you accept someone's answer, even though you might not be completely satisfied with it. [FORMULAE ] □ 'We need proof, sir.' Another pause. Then, 'Very well.'. □ Very well, please yourself.
9 PHRASE If you say that you cannot very well do something, you mean that it would not be right or possible to do it. □ He couldn't very well go to her office and force her to write a check. □ I said yes. I can't very well say no. USAGE very
1
Don’t use ‘very’ to say that something happens because someone or something has a quality to an unusually large extent. Don’t say, for example, ‘
2
Don’t use ‘very’ with comparatives. Don’t say, for example, ‘
3
Don’t say that someone is ‘
ves|pers /ve spə r z/ N‑UNCOUNT In some Christian churches, vespers is a service in the evening.
ves|sel ◆◇◇ /ve s ə l/ (vessels )
1 N‑COUNT A vessel is a ship or large boat. [FORMAL ] □ …a New Zealand navy vessel.
2 N‑COUNT A vessel is a bowl or other container in which liquid is kept. [FORMAL ]
3 → see also blood vessel
vest /ve st/ (vests , vesting , vested )
1 N‑COUNT A vest is a piece of underwear which you can wear on the top half of your body in order to keep warm. [BRIT ] in AM, use undershirt 2 N‑COUNT A vest is a sleeveless piece of clothing with buttons which people usually wear over a shirt. [AM ] in BRIT, use waistcoat 3 VERB [usu passive] If something is vested in you, or if you are vested with it, it is given to you as a right or responsibility. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + in ] All authority was vested in the woman, who discharged every kind of public duty. □ [be V -ed + with ] The mass media have been vested with significant power in modern societies. □ [V -ed] There's an extraordinary amount of power vested in us.
ve st|ed i n|ter|est (vested interests ) N‑VAR If you have a vested interest in something, you have a very strong reason for acting in a particular way, for example to protect your money, power, or reputation. □ [+ in ] The administration has no vested interest in proving whether public schools were good or bad.
ves|ti|bule /ve st I bjuːl/ (vestibules ) N‑COUNT A vestibule is an enclosed area between the outside door of a building and the inside door. [FORMAL ]
ves|tige /ve st I dʒ/ (vestiges ) N‑COUNT A vestige of something is a very small part that still remains of something that was once much larger or more important. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] We represent the last vestige of what made this nation great–hard work.
ves|tig|ial /vest I dʒiəl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Vestigial is used to describe the small amounts of something that still remain of a larger or more important thing. [FORMAL ] □ Vestigial remains of these plays are now seen in the Christmas pantomime.
vest|ments /ve stmənts/ N‑PLURAL Vestments are the special clothes worn by priests during church ceremonies.
ves|try /ve stri/ (vestries ) N‑COUNT A vestry is a room in a church which the clergy use as an office or to change into their ceremonial clothes for church services.
vet /ve t/ (vets , vetting , vetted )
1 N‑COUNT A vet is someone who is qualified to treat sick or injured animals. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use veterinarian 2 N‑COUNT A vet is someone who has served in the armed forces of their country, especially during a war. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ All three are Vietnam vets.
3 VERB If something is vetted , it is checked carefully to make sure that it is acceptable to people in authority. [mainly BRIT ] □ [be V -ed] He can find no trace of a rule requiring research to be vetted before publication. □ [V n] He had not been allowed to read any book until his mother had vetted it.
4 VERB [usu passive] If someone is vetted , they are investigated fully before being given a particular job, role, or position, especially one which involves military or political secrets. [BRIT ] □ [be V -ed] She was secretly vetted before she ever undertook any work for me. ● vet|ting N‑UNCOUNT □ The government is to make major changes to the procedure for carrying out security vetting.