2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Vibrant colours are very bright and clear. □ Horizon Blue, Corn Yellow and Pistachio Green are just three of the vibrant colours in this range. ● vi|brant|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ …a selection of vibrantly coloured cast-iron saucepans.
vi|bra|phone /va I brəfoʊn/ (vibraphones ) N‑COUNT A vibraphone is an electronic musical instrument which consists of a set of metal bars in a frame. When you hit the bars they produce ringing notes that last for some time.
vi|brate /va I bre I t, [AM ] va I bre I t/ (vibrates , vibrating , vibrated ) VERB If something vibrates or if you vibrate it, it shakes with repeated small, quick movements. □ [V ] The ground shook and the cliffs seemed to vibrate. □ [V n] The noise vibrated the table. ● vi|bra|tion /va I bre I ʃ ə n/ (vibrations ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] The vibrations of the vehicles rattled the shop windows.
vi|bra|to /v I brɑː toʊ/ (vibratos ) N‑VAR Vibrato is a rapidly repeated slight change in the pitch of a musical note. Singers and musicians use vibrato to make the music sound more emotional. □ I encourage oboe and clarinet players to use plenty of vibrato.
vi|bra|tor /va I bre I tə r , [AM ] va I bre I tər/ (vibrators ) N‑COUNT A vibrator is an electric device which vibrates. It is used in massage to reduce pain, or to give sexual pleasure.
vic|ar /v I kə r / (vicars )
1 N‑COUNT A vicar is an Anglican priest who is in charge of a church and the area it is in, which is called a parish. [mainly BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT A vicar is a priest who is in charge of a chapel that is associated with a parish church in the Episcopal Church in the United States. [AM ]
vic|ar|age /v I kər I dʒ/ (vicarages ) N‑COUNT A vicarage is a house in which a vicar lives. [BRIT ]
vi|cari|ous /v I keə riəs, [AM ] va I kæ r-/ ADJ [ADJ n] A vicarious pleasure or feeling is experienced by watching, listening to, or reading about other people doing something, rather than by doing it yourself. □ She invents fantasy lives for her own vicarious pleasure. ● vi|cari|ous|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ …a father who lived vicariously through his sons' success.
vice ◆◇◇ /va I s/ (vices )
1 N‑COUNT A vice is a habit which is regarded as a weakness in someone's character, but not usually as a serious fault. □ Intellectual pretension was never one of his vices.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Vice refers to criminal activities, especially those connected with pornography or prostitution. □ He said those convicted of offences connected with vice should be deported.
3 N‑COUNT A vice is a tool with a pair of parts that hold an object tightly while you do work on it. [BRIT ] in AM, use vise
PREFIX vice-
is used before a rank or title to indicate that someone is next in importance to the person who holds the rank or title mentioned. For example, the vice-president of a country is a senior political leader who has a position that is immediately below that of the president.
vice-cha ncellor (vice-chancellors )
1 N‑COUNT In a British university, the vice-chancellor is the person in charge of academic and administrative matters.
2 N‑COUNT In an American university, the vice-chancellor is the person next in rank below the chancellor, who acts as the chancellor's deputy or substitute.
vice|roy /va I srɔ I / (viceroys ) N‑COUNT In former times, a viceroy was the person who ruled a colony on behalf of his king, queen, or government.
vi ce squad (vice squads ) N‑COUNT [N n] The vice squad is the section of a police force that deals with crime relating to pornography, prostitution, and gambling. □ …ten vice-squad officers.
vice ver|sa /va I sə veː r sə/ PHRASE Vice versa is used to indicate that the reverse of what you have said is true. For example 'women may bring their husbands with them, and vice versa' means that men may also bring their wives with them. □ Teachers qualified to teach in England are not accepted in Scotland, and vice versa.
vi|cin|ity /v I s I n I ti/ N‑SING [oft in N ] If something is in the vicinity of a particular place, it is near it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] There were a hundred or so hotels in the vicinity of the railway station.
vi|cious /v I ʃəs/
1 ADJ A vicious person or a vicious blow is violent and cruel. □ He was a cruel and vicious man. □ He suffered a vicious attack by a gang of white youths. □ The blow was so sudden and vicious that he dropped to his knees. ● vi|cious|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ She had been viciously attacked with a hammer. ● vi|cious|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the intensity and viciousness of these attacks.
2 ADJ A vicious remark is cruel and intended to upset someone. □ It is a deliberate, nasty and vicious attack on a young man's character. ● vi|cious|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'He deserved to die,' said Penelope viciously.
vi |cious ci r|cle (vicious circles ) or vicious cycle N‑COUNT [usu sing] A vicious circle is a problem or difficult situation that has the effect of creating new problems which then cause the original problem or situation to occur again. □ Anxiety produces physical symptoms, and the two feed each other in a vicious circle.
vi|cis|si|tudes /v I s I s I tjuːdz, [AM ] -tuːdz/ N‑PLURAL You use vicissitudes to refer to changes, especially unpleasant ones, that happen to someone or something at different times in their life or development. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Whatever the vicissitudes of her past life, Jill now seems to have come through.