urokinase (yur'ou kai´neis, -kin´eis) •n. an enzyme found as a trace in human urine, used for dissolving blood clots [URO-¹ + KINASE]

urolith (yur´ou liθ', yur´э-) •n. URINARY CALCULUS u'ro·lith´ic •adj. [URO-¹ + -LITH]

urology (yu: räl´э ji:) •n. the branch of medicine dealing with the urogenital or urinary system and its diseases u·ro·log·ic (yur'ou läj´ik) or u'ro·log´i·cal •adj. u·rol´o·gist •n. [URO-¹ + -LOGY]

uropod (yur´ou päd', yur´э-) •n. an appendage of the last abdominal segment in certain crustaceans, as either of the pair in the tailfan of the lobster or shrimp [URO-² + -POD]

uropygial gland a large gland located at the base of the tail in most birds, that secretes an oil used in preening

uropygium (yur'ou pij´i: эm, yur'э-) pl. -i·a (-i: э) •n.or -i·ums the hump at the rear extremity of a bird's body, from which the tail feathers grow u'ro·pyg´i·al •adj. [ModL < Gr ouropygion, altered (infl. by oura, tail: see URO-²) < orrhopygion < orrhos, end of the os sacrum + pygē, rump]

uroscopy (yu: räs´kэ pi:) pl. -pies •n. examination of the urine, as for the diagnosis of disease u·ro·scop·ic (yur'э skäp´ik) •adj. [URO-¹ + -SCOPY]

Urquhart (ør´kэrt, -kärt'), Sir Thomas 1611-60; Scot. writer & translator

Ursa Major (ør´sэ) a most conspicuous N constellation between Lynx and Draco: it contains more than 50 visible stars, seven of which form the Big Dipper [L, lit., Great Bear]

Ursa Minor a N constellation surrounded by Draco and containing the N celestial pole and the Little Dipper: see POLARIS [L, lit., Little Bear]

ursiform (ør´sэ förm') •adj. having the form or appearance of a bear [< L ursus, a bear + -FORM]

ursine (ør´sain', -sin) •adj. of, like, or characteristic of a bear; bearlike [L ursinus < ursus, a bear, akin to Gr arktos, a bear]

Ursprache (u:r´shprä'kэ) •n. a reconstructed, hypothetical parent language, as Proto-Germanic [Ger < ur-, original (see UR-) + sprache, language]

Ursula (ør´sэ lэ) 1 a feminine name 2 Saint (c. 4th cent.) a legendary Christian British princess said to have been killed along with 11,000 virgins, by the Huns at Cologne [ML, dim. of L ursa, she-bear]

Ursuline (ûr´sэ lin, -lain') •n. R.C.Ch. any member of a teaching order of nuns founded in 1535 •adj. of this order [ModL Ursulina: after Saint URSULA]

urticaria (ørt'i ker´i: э) •n. an allergic skin condition characterized by itching, burning, stinging, and the formation of smooth patches, or wheals, usually red ur'ti·car´i·al •adj. [ModL < L urtica, a nettle]

urticate (ørt´i keit') -cat'ed, -cat'ing •vt., vi. to sting with or as with nettles [< ML urticatus, pp. of urticare, to sting < L urtica, a nettle, prob. < urere, to burn: see UREDO]

urtication (ørt'i kei´shэn) •n. Med. 1 [Historical] the flogging of a paralyzed limb, etc. with nettles for the stimulating effect produced 2 any sensation of stinging or itching 3 the formation of urticarial wheals [ML urticatio]

Uru Uruguay

Uruapan (u:'ru: ä´pän'; Sp u: řwä´pän') city in Michoacán state, SW Mexico: pop. 147,000

Uruguay (yur´э gwei', -gwai'; ur´э-; u:´ru: gwei', -gwai'; Sp u:'řu: gwai´) 1 country in SE South America, on the Atlantic: 72,171 sq. mi. (186,922 sq. km); pop. 2,974,000; cap. Montevideo 2 river in SE South America flowing from S Brazil into the Río de la Plata: c. 1,000 mi. (1,609 km) Ur'u·guay´an •adj., n.

Ürümqi (u:´ru:m´chi:´) city in NW China; capital of Xinjiang region: pop. c. 940,000: old sp. U´rum´chi´ (-chi:)

Urundi (u: ru:n´di:) the S portion of the former Ruanda-Urundi that is now Burundi

urus (yur´эs) •n. an extinct, shaggy, long-horned wild ox (Bos primigenius), formerly common in Europe and thought to be an ancestor of modern domestic cattle [L < PGmc ūr- (> OHG uro, OE ur, AUROCHS]

urushiol (u:´ru: shi: öl', u: ru:´-; -oul') •n. a poisonous, irritant liquid, C21H32O2, present in poison ivy and the Japanese lac tree [Jpn urushi, lac tree, lacquer + -OL¹: coined (1907) by Toshiyuki Mashima, who isolated it]

us (ûs) objective case of WE: also used as a predicate complement with a linking verb, although the usage is objected to by some (Ex.: that's us) pron. [ME us, ous (acc. & dat. of we: see WE) < OE us, dat., but also used, beside usic, as acc., akin to Ger uns < IE base *ns- < *nes-, *nos-, pl. of *ne-, *no-, we > L nos, we]

US or U.S. United States

USA 1 United States of America: also U.S.A. 2 United States Army

usable (yu:´zэ bэl) •adj. that can be used; fit, convenient, or ready for use us'a·bil´i·ty (-bil´э ti:) or us´a·ble·ness •n. us´a·bly •adv.

USAF United States Air Force

usage (yu:´sij; also, -zij) •n. 1 the act, way, or extent of using or treating; treatment; use 2 long-continued or established practice; habitual or customary use or way of acting; custom; habit 3 the way in which a word, phrase, etc. is used to express a particular idea; customary manner of using the words of a given language in speaking or writing, or an instance of this SYN. HABIT [OFr < ML usagium < L usus: see USE]

usance (yu:´zэns) •n. 1 the time allowed for the payment of a foreign bill of exchange, as established by custom 2 [Obs.] a) USE b) USAGE c) USURY [ME < MFr < usant, prp. of user: see USE]

USCG United States Coast Guard

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

use (yu:z; for n. yu:s) used (yu:zd; for vt. 6 & vi. 1, with the following to'', yu:s´tэ or yu:s´tu: & also yu:zd´tu: or yu:zd´tэ), us´ing •vt. 1 to put or bring into action or service; employ for or apply to a given purpose 2 to practice; exercise {to use one's judgment} 3 to act or behave toward; treat {to use a friend badly} 4 to consume, expend, or exhaust by use: often with up {to use up one's energy} 5 a) to smoke or chew (tobacco) b) to take or consume habitually {to use drugs} 6 to make familiar; accustom: used in the passive with to {to become used to certain ways} 7 to exploit or treat (a person) as a means to some selfish end •vi. 1 to be accustomed; be wont: now only in the past tense, with an infinitive, meaning did at one time {he used to live in Iowa} 2 [Now Chiefly Dial.] to frequent; resort •n. [ME & OFr us < L usus] 1 the act of using or the state of being used 2 the power or ability to use {to regain the use of an injured hand} 3 the right or permission to use {to grant a neighbor the use of one's car} 4 the need, opportunity, or occasion to use {no further use for his services} 5 an instance or way of using 6 the quality that makes a thing useful or suitable for a given purpose; advantage; usefulness; worth; utility 7 the object, end, or purpose for which something is used 8 function, service, or benefit 9 constant, continued, customary, or habitual employment, practice, or exercise, or an instance of this; custom; habit; practice; wont 10 the particular form of ritual or liturgy practiced in a given church, diocese, etc. 11 Law a) the enjoyment of property, as from occupying, employing, or exercising it b) profit, benefit, or advantage, esp. that from lands and tenements held in trust by another [infl. by OFr ues, gain < L opus, a work] have no use for 1 to have no need of 2 to have no wish to deal with; be impatient with Æ 3 to have no affection or respect for; dislike strongly in use being used make use of to use; have occasion to use put to use to use; find a use for SYN.—use implies the putting of a thing (or, usually in an opprobrious sense, a person regarded as a passive thing) into action or service so as to accomplish an end [to use a pencil, a suggestion, etc.; he used his brother to advance himself]; employ, a somewhat more elevated term, implies the putting to useful work of something not in use at that moment [to employ a vacant lot as a playground] and, with reference to persons, suggests a providing of work and pay [she employs five accountants]; utilize implies the putting of something to a practical or profitable use [to utilize chemical byproducts] [ME usen < OFr user < VL *usare < L usus, pp. of uti, to use]

useable (yu:´zэ bэl) •adj. USABLE use'a·bil´i·ty (-bil´э ti:) or use´a·ble·ness •n. use´a·bly •adv.

used (yu:zd : see note at ÛSE) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of USE •adj. 1 that has been used 2 SECONDHAND

useful (yu:s´fэl) •adj. that can be used to advantage; serviceable; helpful; beneficial; often, having practical utility use´ful·ly •adv. use´ful·ness •n.

useless (-lis) •adj. 1 having no use; unserviceable; worthless 2 to no purpose; ineffectual; of no avail SYN. FUTILE use´less·ly •adv. use´less·ness •n.

user (yu:´zэr) •n. 1 a person or thing that uses; specif., Æ a) a person who uses drugs; addict b) a person who makes use of a computer 2 Law a) the exercise of a right of USE (n. 11a) b) a right of use, based on long use [sense 1 < US(E) + -ER; in sense 2 a substantive use of OFr user, to use]

user-friendly (-frend´li:) •adj. easy to use or understand: said esp. of computer hardware, programs, etc.

USES United States Employment Service

USGS United States Geological Survey

U-shaped (yu:´sheipt') •adj. having the shape of a U

Ushas (u:´shäs') the Hindu, or Vedic, goddess of the dawn [Sans Usas, dawn]

usher (ûsh´эr) •n. 1 an official doorkeeper 2 a person whose duty it is to show people to their seats in a theater, church, etc. 3 a person whose official duty is to precede someone of rank, as in a procession, or to introduce unacquainted persons at a formal function 4 any of the groom's attendants at a wedding whose duties include showing guests to their seats and escorting the bridesmaids 5 [Obs.] in Great Britain, an assistant teacher in a boys' school •vt. 1 to act as an usher to; escort or conduct (others) to seats, etc. 2 to precede, or be a forerunner of: often with in [ME ussher < OFr uissier < L ostiarius, doorkeeper: see OSTIARY]

usherette (ûsh'эr et´) •n. a woman or girl usher, as in a theater: no longer a common term: see -ETTE

USIA United States Information Agency

Usk (ûsk) river flowing from S Wales through W England into the Severn estuary: 60 mi. (96 km)

Üsküdar (u:s'ku: där´) section of Istanbul, Turkey, on the Asian side of the Bosporus

USM 1 United States Mail 2 United States Mint

USMC United States Marine Corps

USN United States Navy

USNG United States National Guard

USO United Service Organizations

USP or US Phar United States Pharmacopoeia

Uspallata Pass (u:s'pä yä´tä) mountain pass in the Andes, on the Chile-Argentina border: c. 12,650 ft. (3,855 m) high

USPS United States Postal Service

usquebaugh (ûs´kwi bä', -bö') •n. [Scot. or Irish] WHISKEY [see WHISKEY]

USS 1 United States Senate 2 United States Ship

Ussher (ûsh´эr), James 1581-1656; Ir. archbishop & theologian

USSR or U.S.S.R. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Ussuri (u: su:´ri:) river in SE Asian Russia, flowing north along the Manchurian border into the Amur River: 365 mi. (587 km)

Ustinov (yu:s´tэ nöf') old name of IZHEVSK

ustulate (ûs´tyu: lit, -leit') •adj. discolored or blackened, as if scorched [L ustulatus, pp. of ustulare: see USTULATION]

ustulation (ûs'tyu: lei´shэn) •n. the use of heat to dry or scorch, esp. in preparing a medicine [ML ustulatio < L ustulare, to scorch < base of urere, to burn < IE base *eus-, to burn]

usu 1 usual 2 usually

usual (yu:´zhu: эl, yu:zh´wэl) •adj. such as is in common or ordinary use; such as is most often seen, heard, used, etc.; common; ordinary; customary as usual in the usual way u´su·al·ly •adv. u´su·al·ness •n. SYN.—usual applies to that which past experience has shown to be the normal, common, hence expected thing [the usual results, price, answer, etc.]; customary refers to that which accords with the usual practices of some individual or with the prevailing customs of some group [his customary mid-morning coffee, it was customary to dress for dinner]; habitual implies a fixed practice as the result of habit [her habitual tardiness]; wonted is a somewhat literary equivalent for customary or habitual [according to their wonted manner]; accustomed is equivalent to customary but suggests less strongly a settled custom [he sat in his accustomed place] see also NORMAL —ANT. extraordinary, unusual [ME < MFr < LL usualis < L usus: see USE]

usufruct (yu:´zyu: frûkt') •n. Rom. Law, Civil Law the right of using and enjoying all the advantages and profits of the property of another without altering or damaging the substance [LL usufructus < L ususfructus < usus, a USE + fructus, enjoyment, FRUIT]

usufructuary (yu:'zyu: frûk´chu: er'i:) pl. -ar'ies •n. a person or agent having the usufruct of property •adj. of, or having the nature of, a usufruct [LL usufructuarius]

usurer (yu:´zhэr эr) •n. a person who lends money at interest, now specif., at a rate of interest that is excessive or unlawfully high [ME < MFr usurier < ML usurarius, usurer < L usura: see USURY]

usurious (yu: zhur´i: эs) •adj. 1 practicing usury 2 of or constituting usury u·su´ri·ous·ly •adv. u·su´ri·ous·ness •n.

usurp (yu: zørp´, -sørp´) •vt. to take or assume (power, a position, property, rights, etc.) and hold in possession by force or without right •vi. to practice or commit usurpation (on or upon) u·surp´er •n. u·surp´ing·ly •adv. [ME usurpen < MFr usurper < L usurpare < usus, a USE + rapere, to seize: see RAPE¹]

usurpation (yu:'zэr pei´shэn, -sэr-) •n. the act of usurping; esp., the unlawful or violent seizure of a throne, power, etc. [ME usurpacion < L usurpatio]

usury (yu:´zhэr i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 the act or practice of lending money at interest, now specif., at a rate of interest that is excessive or unlawfully high 2 interest at such a high rate [ME usurie < ML usuria < L usura < usus: see USE]

ut (ût, u:t) •n. Music a syllable formerly used in solmization: now replaced by do [ME < ML: see GAMUT] Ut Utah UT 1 Universal time 2 Utah

ut dict. as directed [L ut dictum]

ut infra (ut in´frэ) as below [L]

Utah (yu:´tö', -tä') Mountain State of the W U.S.: admitted, 1896; 84,916 sq. mi. (219,931 sq. km); pop. 1,723,000; cap. Salt Lake City: abbrev. UT or Ut U´tah'an (-tö'эn, -tä'эn; -tön', -tän') or U´tahn' (-tön', -tän') •adj., n. [< Sp Yutta < Ute name, lit. ? hill dwellers]

UTC Coordinated Universal Time

Ute (yu:t, yu:t´i:) •n. 1 pl. Utes or Ute a member of a North American Indian people who orig. ranged throughout the SW plains regions, now living mainly in W Colorado and E Utah 2 the Uto-Aztecan language of this people [akin to UTAH]

utensil (yu: ten´sэl) •n. 1 any implement or container ordinarily used as in a kitchen 2 an implement or tool, as for use in farming, etc. SYN. IMPLEMENT [ME utensele < MFr utensile < L utensilia, materials, utensils < neut. pl. of utensilis, fit for use < uti, to use]

uterine (yu:t´эr in, -эr ain') •adj. 1 of the uterus 2 having the same mother but a different father {uterine sisters} [ME < LL uterinus]

utero- (yu:t´эr ou', -эr э) combining form uterus, uterus and {uteroabdominal} Also, before a vowel, u·ter- (yu:t´эr) [< fol.]

uterus (yu:t´эr эs) pl. u´ter·i' (-ai') •n. 1 a hollow, muscular organ of female mammals in which the ovum is deposited and the embryo and fetus are developed; womb: it is usually paired, but is single in primates 2 a similar structure in many invertebrates [L < ? IE base *udero-, belly > Sans udáram]

Uther (yu´θэr) Arthurian Legend a king of Britain and the father of King Arthur

Utica (yu:t´i kэ) 1 city in central N.Y., on the Mohawk River: pop. 69,000 [after the ancient African city] 2 city of ancient times in N Africa, north of modern Tunis

utile (yu:t´ªl) •adj. [Obs.] USEFUL [LME < MFr < L utilis < uti, to use]

utilise (yu:t´ªl aiz') -lised', -lis'ing •vt. alt. Brit., etc. sp. of UTILIZE

utilitarian (yu: til'э ter´i: эn) •adj. 1 of or having to do with utility 2 stressing usefulness over beauty or other considerations 3 made for or aiming at utility 4 of, or having belief in, utilitarianism •n. a person who believes in utilitarianism [UTILIT(Y) + -ARIAN: coined (1781) by Jeremy BENTHAM]

utilitarianism (-iz'эm) •n. 1 the doctrine that the worth or value of anything is determined solely by its utility 2 the doctrine, developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, that the purpose of all action should be to bring about the greatest happiness of the greatest number 3 utilitarian character or quality

utility (yu: til´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or property of being useful; usefulness 2 something useful 3 a) something useful to the public, esp. the service of electric power, gas, water, telephone, etc. b) a company providing such a service c) [pl.] shares of stock in such a company 4 Econ. the power to satisfy the needs or wants of humanity •adj. 1 serving or designed for practical use with little or no attention to beauty 2 useful or used in a number of ways Æ 3 designating an auxiliary player who is able to substitute at any of several positions on a baseball team {a utility infielder} 4 designating or of an inferior, usually dark, coarse grade of meat, lacking fat [ME utilite < OFr utilité < L utilitas < utilis, UTILE]

utility room a room containing various household appliances and equipment, as for heating, laundry, cleaning, etc.

utility truck [Austral. & N.Z.] PICKUP

utilize (yu:t´ªl aiz') -lized', -liz'ing •vt. to put to use; make practical or profitable use of SYN. USE u´ti·liz'a·ble •adj. u'ti·li·za´tion •n. u´ti·liz'er •n. [Fr utiliser: see UTILE & -IZE]

utmost (ût´moust') •adj. 1 situated at the farthest point or limit; most extreme or distant; farthest 2 of or to the greatest or highest degree, amount, number, etc.; greatest •n. the most or the greatest that is possible; extreme limit or degree [ME utemest < OE utemest, ytemest, double superl. of ut, OUT]

Uto-Aztecan (yu:t´ou æz´tek' эn) •n. a family of Amerindian languages of the W U.S., Mexico, and Central America, including, among others, Hopi, Nahuatl, Pima, Shoshone, and Ute •adj. designating or of these languages or the peoples who speak them

Utopia (yu: tou´pi: э) an imaginary island described in a book of the same name by Sir Thomas More (1516) as having a perfect political and social system •n. [often u-] 1 any idealized place, state, or situation of perfection 2 any visionary scheme or system for an ideally perfect society 3 a novel or other work depicting a utopian society or place [ModL < Gr ou, not + topos, a place: see TOPIC]

Utopian (-эn) •adj. 1 of or like Utopia 2 [often u-] a) having the nature of, or inclined to draw up schemes for, a utopia; idealistic; visionary b) founded upon ideas envisioning perfection in social and political organization {a utopian community} •n. 1 an inhabitant of Utopia 2 [often u-] a person who believes in a utopia, esp. of a social or political nature; visionary [ModL Utopianus]

utopianism (-эn iz'эm) •n. the ideas, doctrines, aims, etc. of a utopian; visionary schemes for producing perfection in social or political conditions

Utrecht (yu:´trekt') 1 province of the central Netherlands: 513 sq. mi. (1,329 sq. km); pop. 936,000 2 its capital: pop. 230,000

utricle (yu:´tri kэl) •n. a small sac, vesicle, or baglike part; specif., a) Anat. the larger of the two saclike cavities in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear, communicating with the semicircular canals b) Bot. a small, one-celled, usually indehiscent fruit with a thin, membranous wall and one or several seeds Also u·tric·u·lus (yu: trik´yu: lэs, -yэ lэs), pl. -li' (-lai') u·tric·u·lar (yu: trik´yu: lэr, -yэ lэr) •adj. [< Fr or L: Fr utricule < L utriculus, little bag or bottle, dim. of uter, leather bag, wineskin, prob. via Etr < Gr hydria, water bag, jug < hydor, WATER]

Utrillo (u: tril´ou, yu:-; Fr ü tři: you´), Maurice 1883-1955; Fr. painter

Utsunomiya (u:t'su: no mi:´yä) city in central Honshu, Japan, north of Tokyo: pop. 395,000

Uttar Pradesh (u:t'эr prэ desh´, -deish´) state of N India: 113,654 sq. mi. (294,363 sq. km); pop. 110,858,000; cap. Lucknow

utter¹ (ût´эr) •adj. 1 complete; total 2 unqualified; absolute; unconditional ut´ter·ly •adv. ut´ter·ness •n. [ME < OE uttera, compar. of ut, OUT]

utter² (ût´эr) •vt. 1 orig., to give out; put forth: now used only of the passing of counterfeit money or forged checks 2 to produce, speak, or express audibly (speech sounds, syllables, words, thoughts, etc.) 3 to express in any way 4 to emit (nonvocal sounds), as if speaking 5 to make known; divulge; reveal 6 [Obs.] to publish (a book, etc.) 7 [Obs.] to sell (goods, etc.) •vi. to speak or converse ut´ter·a·ble •adj. ut´ter·er •n. SYN.—utter implies the communication of an idea or feeling by means of vocal sounds, such as words, exclamations, etc. [he uttered a sigh of relief]; express, the broadest of these terms, suggests a revealing of ideas, feelings, one's personality, etc. by means of speech, action, or creative work [to express oneself in music]; voice suggests expression through words, either spoken or written [voicing one's opinions in letters to the editor]; broach suggests the utterance or mention of an idea to someone for the first time [I'll broach the subject to her at dinner]; enunciate suggests the announcement or open attestation of some idea [to enunciate a theory, doctrine, etc.] [ME uttren < utter, outward: see UTTER1]

utterance¹ (ût´эr эns) •n. 1 the act of uttering, or expressing by voice 2 the power or style of speaking 3 that which is uttered; esp., a word or words uttered, whether written or spoken [ME: see UTTER2 & -ANCE]

utterance² (ût´эr эns) •n. [Obs.] the utmost, or last, extremity; i.e., death [ME, altered (infl. by UTTER¹) < MFr outrance: see OUTRANCE]

uttermost (ût´эr moust') •adj., n. UTMOST

U-turn (yu:´tørn´) •n. a turn made so as to head in the opposite direction: used esp. of a vehicle in a street or road

UV or uv ultraviolet

uvarovite (u: vär´э vait', yu:-) •n. an emerald-green garnet, Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3, containing chromium [Ger uwarowit, after S. S. Uvarov (1786-1855), Russ statesman and author + -it, -ITE¹]

uvea (yu:´vi: э) •n. the iris, ciliary body, and choroid, together forming the entire pigmented, vascular layer of the eye u´ve·al •adj. [ML < L uva, grape: see UVULA]

Uvedale (yu:v´deil'), Nicholas var. of Nicholas UDALL

uveitis (yu:'vi: ait´is) •n. inflammation of the uvea u've·it´ic (-it´ik) •adj. [ModL: see UVEA & -ITIS]

uvula (yu:´vyu: lэ, -vyэ-) pl. -las or -lae' (-li:') •n. the small, fleshy process hanging down from the middle of the soft palate above the back of the tongue: see PHARYNX, illus. [ML, dim. of L uva, grape < IE base *ei-, reddish, colorful > OE iw, YEW]

uvular (-lэr) •adj. 1 of or having to do with the uvula 2 Phonet. articulated with a vibration of the uvula, or with the back of the tongue near or in contact with the uvula, as, in some French or German dialects, the sound represented by r •n. Phonet. a uvular sound u´vu·lar·ly •adv. [ModL uvularis]

ux. wife [L uxor]

Uxbridge (ûks´brij´) former borough in Middlesex, SE England: now a district of Greater London

Uxmal (u:z mäl´) ruined Mayan city in the NW Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

uxorial (ûk sör´i: эl, ûg zör´-) •adj. of, befitting, or characteristic of a wife ux·o´ri·al·ly •adv. [< L uxorius (see UXORIOUS) + -AL]

uxoricide (ûk sör´э said', -zör´-) •n. 1 the murder of a wife by her husband 2 a man who murders his wife ux·or'i·ci´dal •adj. [< L uxor, wife (see UXORIOUS) + -CIDE]

uxorious (ûk sör´i: эs, -zör´-) •adj. dotingly or irrationally fond of or submissive to one's wife ux·o´ri·ous·ly •adv. [L uxorius < uxor, wife < ?]

Uzbek (uz´bek', ûz´-) •n. 1 a member of a Turkic people living mainly in Uzbekistan and neighboring regions 2 the Turkic language of this people •adj. designating or of the Uzbeks or their language or culture

Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic a republic of the U.S.S.R.: now UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan (uz bek'i stæn´, -stän´) 1 UZBEK SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC 2 country in central Asia: became independent upon the breakup of the U.S.S.R. (1991): 172,741 sq. mi. (447,397 sq. km); pop. 17,989,000; cap. Tashkent: formerly, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Uzi (u:´zi:) trademark for a compact, automatic or semi-automatic gun, made in Israel

V abbrev. 1 Chem. symbol for vanadium 2 velocity 3 Venerable 4 Vicar 5 Vice 6 victory 7 Viscount 8 volt V (vi:) •n. 1 a Roman numeral for 5 Æ 2 [Colloq.] a five-dollar bill v abbrev. 1 in the place of [L vice] 2 of [Ger von] 3 see [L vide] 4 valve 5 Math. vector 6 velocity 7 ventral 8 verb 9 verse 10 version 11 verso 12 versus 13 very 14 village Æ 15 violin Æ 16 vise 17 vocative 18 voice 19 volt 20 voltage 21 volume

v aux auxiliary verb

v imp impersonal verb

v or V (vi:) pl. v's, V's •n. 1 the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet: from the Latin V, derived from one form of the Greek Y (upsilon): formerly used interchangeably in English with U both as a vowel and as a consonant, now only a consonant 2 any of the speech sounds that this letter represents, as, in English, the (v) in vote 3 a type or impression for V or v 4 the twenty-second in a sequence or group 5 an object shaped like V •adj. 1 of V or v 2 twenty-second in a sequence or group 3 shaped like V

V Rev Very Reverend

V sign a gesture made by raising the hand with the middle and index fingers separated to form a V, showing a wish for victory or success or expressing approval [V(ictory)]

v.i. see below [L vide infra]

V.R. Queen Victoria [L Victoria Regina]

v.s. see above [L vide supra]

V.S.O. very superior (or special) old: of brandy

V.S.O.P. very superior (or special) old pale: of brandy

V/STOL (vi:´stöl') •n. an aircraft that can take off and land either vertically or on a short airstrip [v(ertical or) s(hort) t(ake)o(ff and) l(anding)]

V-6 (vi:´siks´) •adj. designating or of an engine similar to a V-8 but with only six cylinders •n. 1 a V-6 engine 2 an automotive vehicle with a V-6 engine

V-8 (vi:´eit´) •adj. designating or of a type of reciprocating internal-combustion engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V-shape of two rows of four •n. 1 a V-8 engine 2 a vehicle with a V-8 engine

VA 1 Veterans Administration 2 Vicar Apostolic 3 Vice Admiral 4 Virginia: also Va

Vaal (väl) river in South Africa, flowing from SE Transvaal into the Orange River in N Cape Province: c. 700 mi. (1,126 km)

vac (væk) •n. 1 short for VACUUM CLEANER 2 [Brit., etc. Colloq.] short for VACATION

vacancy (vei´kэn si:) pl. -cies •n. 1 the state of being vacant, or empty; emptiness 2 a) empty space b) a vacant space; gap, blank, opening, etc. 3 the state of being empty in mind; lack of intelligence, interest, or thought; vacuity 4 [Now Rare] the state of being free from work, activity, etc.; idleness 5 an unoccupied position or office; unfilled post, situation, or job 6 untenanted quarters, as in a hotel 7 Physics a lattice defect in a crystal due to a displaced or missing ion or atom [L vacantia < vacans]

vacant (vei´kэnt) •adj. 1 having nothing in it, as a space; devoid of contents; empty; void 2 not held, filled, or occupied, as a position or office 3 having no occupant {a vacant seat} 4 untenanted, as a room or house 5 not filled with activity or work; free; leisure {vacant time} 6 a) having or showing emptiness of mind or lack of intelligence, interest, thought, etc. b) empty of thought (said of the mind) 7 Law a) unoccupied or unused, as land b) having no claimant, as an estate or succession c) not yet granted, as public lands SYN. EMPTY va´cant·ly •adv. va´cant·ness •n. [OFr < L vacans, prp. of vacare, to be empty]

vacate (vei´keit', vei keit´) -cat'ed, -cat'ing •vt. 1 to make vacant; specif., a) to cause (an office, position, etc.) to be unfilled or unoccupied, as by resignation b) to leave (a house, room, etc.) uninhabited or untenanted; give up the occupancy of 2 Law to make void; annul •vi. 1 to make an office, position, place, etc. vacant Æ 2 [Colloq.] to spend a vacation [back-form. < fol.] [< L vacatus, pp. of vacare, to be empty]

vacation (vei kei´shэn, vэ-) •n. 1 freedom from any activity; rest; respite; intermission Æ 2 a period of rest and freedom from work, study, etc.; time of recreation, usually a specific interval in a year 3 [Rare] the act of making vacant 4 Law a formal recess between terms of a court •vi. 1 to take a vacation 2 to spend one's vacation {to vacation in Maine} [ME vacacion < MFr < L vacatio]

vacationer (-эr) •n. a person taking a vacation, esp. one who is traveling or at a resort Also va·ca´tion·ist

vacationland (-lænd´) •n. an area attractive to vacationers because of recreational facilities, historic sights, etc.

Vacaville (væk´э vil') city in WC Calif., northeast of San Francisco: pop. 71,000 [after a family named Vaca, early settlers]

vaccinal (væk´sэ nэl) •adj. of vaccine or vaccination

vaccinate (væk´sэ neit') -nat'ed, -nat'ing •vt. to inoculate with a specific vaccine in order to prevent disease •vi. to practice vaccination vac´ci·na'tor •n. [VACCIN(E) + -ATE¹]

vaccination (væk'sэ nei´shэn) •n. 1 the act or practice of vaccinating 2 a scar on the skin where a vaccine, esp. for smallpox, has been applied

vaccine (væk si:n´; væk´si:n) •n. 1 orig., lymph, or a preparation of this, from a cowpox vesicle, containing the causative virus and used in vaccination against cowpox or smallpox 2 any preparation of killed microorganisms, living weakened organisms, etc. introduced into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease by causing the formation of antibodies •adj. [Rare] of cowpox or vaccination [L vaccinus, from cows < vacca, cow; akin ? to Sans vaśa, rogue cow]

vaccinia (væk sin´i: э) •n. COWPOX vac·cin´i·al •adj. [ModL < L vaccinus: see VACCINE]

vacillant (væs´э lэnt) •adj. vacillating; wavering

vacillate (-leit') -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vi. 1 to sway to and fro; waver; totter; stagger 2 to fluctuate or oscillate 3 to waver in mind; show indecision vac'il·la´tion •n. vac´il·la'tor •n. vac´il·la·to'ry (-lэ tör'i:) •adj. [< L vacillatus, pp. of vacillare, to sway to and fro, waver < IE *wek-, to be bent, prob. < base *wā-, to bend apart, turn > L varus, bent, diverse]

vacillating (-leit'iŋ) •adj. wavering or tending to waver in motion, opinion, etc. vac´il·lat'ing·ly •adv.

vacua (væk´yu: э) •n. alt. pl. of VACUUM

vacuity (væ kyu:´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or state of being empty; emptiness 2 an empty space; void or vacuum 3 emptiness of mind; lack of intelligence, interest, or thought 4 an inane or senseless thing, remark, or quality; inanity [L vacuitas < vacuus, empty]

vacuolate (væk´yu: э leit', -lit) •adj. having a vacuole or vacuoles Also vac´u·o·lat'ed

vacuolation (væk'yu: э lei´shэn) •n. the formation or arrangement of vacuoles

vacuole (væk´yu: oul') •n. Biol. a fluid-filled cavity within the cytoplasm of a cell, surrounded by a membrane that usually encloses food, water, or air vac·u·o·lar (væk´yu: wэ lэr, væk'yu wou´lэr) •adj. [Fr < L vacuus, empty]

vacuous (væk´yu: эs) •adj. 1 empty of matter 2 having or showing lack of intelligence, interest, or thought; stupid; senseless; inane 3 characterized by lack of purpose, of profitable employment, etc.; idle SYN. EMPTY vac´u·ous·ly •adv. vac´u·ous·ness •n. [L vacuus]

vacuum (væk´yu: эm, -yu:m'; often, -yum, -yэm) pl. -u·ums or -u·a (-yu: э) •n. 1 a space with nothing at all in it; completely empty space 2 a) an enclosed space, as that inside a vacuum tube, out of which most of the air or gas has been taken, as by pumping b) the degree to which pressure has been brought below atmospheric pressure 3 a space left empty by the removal or absence of something usually found in it; void: often used figuratively Æ 4 short for VACUUM CLEANER •adj. 1 of a vacuum 2 used to make a vacuum 3 having a vacuum; partially or completely exhausted of air or gas 4 working by suction or the creation of a partial vacuum •vt., vi. to clean with a vacuum cleaner In full vac´u·um-clean´ [L, neut. sing. of vacuus, empty]

vacuum bottle (or flask or jug) THERMOS

vacuum cleaner a machine for cleaning carpets, floors, upholstery, etc. by suction Also vacuum sweeper

vacuum gauge an instrument for measuring the pressure of the air or gas in a partial vacuum

vacuum pump 1 a pump used to draw air or gas out of sealed space 2 PULSOMETER (sense 1)

vacuum tube an electron tube from which the air has been evacuated to the highest possible degree, containing one or more grids, used as an amplifier, rectifier, etc.

vacuum valve [Brit.] VACUUM TUBE

vacuum-packed (-pækt') •adj. packed in an airtight container from which most of the air was exhausted before sealing, so as to maintain freshness

vade mecum (vei´di: mi:´kэm, vä´-) something carried about by a person for constant use, reference, etc., as a handbook or manual [L, lit., go with me]

Vadodara (vä dou dä´rэ) 1 former state of W India, now part of Gujarat state 2 city in SE Gujarat state, W India: pop. 745,000

vadose (vei´dous') •adj. designating or of water that clings to solid matter in an unsaturated zone between the earth's surface and the water table [< L vadosus, shallow < vadum, shallow place, ford, akin to vadere, to go: for IE base see WADE]

Vaduz (vä du:ts´) capital of Liechtenstein: pop. 4,900

vagabond (væg´э bänd') •adj. 1 moving from place to place, with no fixed abode; wandering 2 of, having to do with, or living an unsettled, drifting, or irresponsible life; vagrant; shiftless 3 aimlessly following an irregular course or path; drifting •n. 1 a person who wanders from place to place, having no fixed abode 2 a tramp 3 an idle, disreputable, or shiftless person •vi. to wander SYN. VAGRANT vag´a·bond'ish •adj. [ME < MFr < L adj. vagabundus, strolling about < vagari, to wander < vagus: see VAGUE]

vagabondage (-ij) •n. 1 the state or condition of being a vagabond; vagrant way of life: also vag´a·bond'ism' 2 vagabonds collectively [Fr: see VAGABOND & -AGE]

vagal (vei´gэl) •adj. of or having to do with the vagus nerve [VAG(US) + -AL]

vagarious (vэ ger´i: эs, -gær´-) •adj. 1 full of or characterized by vagaries; capricious 2 wandering; roaming

vagary (vэ ger´i:, -gær´-; vei´gэr i:) pl. -gar´ies •n. 1 an odd, eccentric, or unexpected action or bit of conduct 2 an odd, whimsical, or freakish idea or notion; oddity; caprice SYN. CAPRICE [earlier used as a v., to wander < L vagari, to wander < vagus: see VAGUE]

vagina (vэ jai´nэ) pl. -nas or -nae (-ni:) •n. 1 Anat., Zool. a sheath or sheathlike structure; specif., in female mammals, the canal between the vulva and the uterus 2 Bot. the sheath formed by the base of certain leaves where it envelops a stem [L, a sheath]

vaginal (væj´э nэl, vэ jai´nэl) •adj. Anat., Zool. 1 of or like a sheath 2 of or for the vagina of a female mammal

vaginate (væj´э nit, -neit') •adj. 1 having a vagina or sheath; sheathed, as grass leaves 2 like a sheath [ModL vaginatus]

vaginismus (væj'э niz´mэs) •n. a painful spasm of the vagina making coital penetration difficult or impossible

vaginitis (væj'э nait´is) •n. inflammation of the vagina; colpitis [ModL: see VAGINA & -ITIS]

vagino- (væj´э nou', -nэ) combining form vagina {vaginoscope} Also, before a vowel, vagin- [< L vagina]

vago- (vei´gou) combining form vagus nerve {vagotomy} Also, before a vowel, vag- [< VAGUS]

vagodepressor (vei'gou di pres´эr) •adj. depressing the vagus nerve activity •n. a vagodepressor drug

vagotomy (vei gät´э mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical cutting of the vagus nerve, as to relieve peptic ulcer by reducing the flow of gastric juice [VAGO- + -TOMY]

vagotonia (vei'gэ tou´ni: э) •n. a disorder resulting from overstimulation of the vagus nerve, causing a slowing of the heart rate, fainting, etc. va'go·ton´ic (-tän´ik) •adj. [ModL: see VAGO-, TONE, & -IA]

vagotropic (-träp´ik) •adj. affecting, or acting upon, the vagus nerve [VAGO- + -TROPIC]

vagrancy (vei´grэn si:) pl. -cies •n. 1 [Now Rare] a wandering in thought or talk; digression 2 a wandering from place to place; vagabondage 3 shiftless or idle wandering without money or work, as of tramps, beggars, etc.: often a statutory offense chargeable as a misdemeanor [< fol.]

vagrant (vei´grэnt) •n. 1 a person who wanders from place to place or lives a wandering life; rover 2 one who wanders from place to place without a regular job, supporting oneself by begging, etc.; idle wanderer; vagabond 3 Law a tramp, beggar, prostitute, or similar idle or disorderly persons whose way of living makes them liable to arrest and detention •adj. 1 wandering from place to place or living a wandering life; roaming; nomadic 2 living the life of a vagabond or tramp 3 of or characteristic of a vagrant 4 characterized by straggling growth: said of plants 5 following no fixed direction, course, or pattern; random, wayward, fleeting, erratic, etc. va´grant·ly •adv. SYN.—vagrant refers to a person without a fixed home who wanders about from place to place, gaining support from begging, etc., and in legal usage, implies such a person regarded as a public nuisance, subject to arrest; vagabond, orig. implying shiftlessness, rascality, etc., now often connotes no more than a carefree, roaming existence; bum, tramp, and hobo are informal equivalents for the preceding, but bum always connotes an idle, dissolute, often alcoholic person who never works, tramp and hobo connote a vagrant, whether one who lives by begging or by doing odd jobs; hobo now also means a migratory laborer see also ITINERANT [ME vagraunt, prob. < Anglo-Fr wacrant, walcrant < OFr walcrer, to wander < Frank *walken (see WALK): infl. prob. by L vagari, to wander]

vagrom (vei´grэm) •adj. archaic var. of VAGRANT

vague (veig) va´guer, va´guest •adj. 1 not clearly, precisely, or definitely expressed or stated 2 indefinite in shape, form, or character; hazily or indistinctly seen or sensed 3 not sharp, certain, or precise in thought, feeling, or expression {vague in his answers, a vague hope} 4 not precisely determined or known; uncertain SYN. OBSCURE vague´ly •adv. vague´ness •n. [Fr < L vagus, wandering < IE *wag-, to be bent, prob. < base *wā- > VACILLATE]

vagus (vei´gэs) pl. va´gi' (-jai') either of the tenth pair of cranial nerves, arising in the medulla oblongata and providing parasympathetic innervation to the larynx, lungs, heart, esophagus, and most of the abdominal organs Also vagus nerve •n. [ModL < L, wandering: see VAGUE]

vahine (vä hi:´nei) •n. a Polynesian woman, esp. of Tahiti [Tahitian, woman < Proto-Polynesian *fafine > Haw & Maori wahine: see WAHINE]

vail¹ (veil) •vi. [Archaic] to be of use, service, or profit; avail •n. [Archaic] a tip; gratuity [ME vailen < pres. indic. stem of OFr valoir, to be of worth: see AVAIL]

vail² (veil) •vt. [Archaic] 1 to lower; let sink or fall down 2 to take off or tip (one's hat, etc.) as a sign of respect or submission [ME valen < OFr valer or aphetic < avaler, to descend < à val, down < L ad vallum, lit., to the valley]

vail³ (veil) •n., vt. obs. sp. of VEIL

vain (vein) •adj. 1 having no real value or significance; worthless, empty, idle, hollow, etc. {vain pomp} 2 without force or effect; futile, fruitless, unprofitable, unavailing, etc. {a vain endeavor} 3 having or showing an excessively high regard for one's self, looks, possessions, ability, etc.; indulging in or resulting from personal vanity; conceited 4 [Archaic] lacking in sense; foolish in vain 1 fruitlessly; vainly 2 lightly; profanely; irreverently vain´ness •n. SYN.—vain, in this connection, applies to that which has little or no real value, worth, or meaning [vain studies]; idle refers to that which is baseless or worthless because it can never be realized [idle hopes, idle talk]; empty and hollow are used of that which only appears to be genuine, sincere, worthwhile, etc. [empty threats, hollow pleasures]; otiose applies to that which has no real purpose or function and is therefore useless or superfluous [otiose remarks] see also FUTILE [OFr < L vanus, empty, vain: see WANT]

vainglorious (vein'glör´i: эs) •adj. 1 boastfully vain and proud of oneself 2 showing or characterized by boastful vanity vain'glo´ri·ous·ly •adv. vain'glo´ri·ous·ness •n. [LME vanegloreous < ML vaniglorius: see VAINGLORY]

vainglory (vein´glör'i:, vein glör´i:) •n. 1 extreme self-pride and boastfulness; excessive and ostentatious vanity 2 vain show or empty pomp SYN. PRIDE [ME vainglorie < OFr vaine gloire < L vana gloria, empty boasting: see VAIN & GLORY]

vainly (vein´li:) •adv. 1 in vain; uselessly; fruitlessly; without success 2 with vanity; conceitedly

vair (ver) •n. 1 [Archaic] a fur, usually from a gray and white squirrel, used for trimming and lining clothes in the Middle Ages 2 Heraldry the representation of a fur, indicated in engravings by rows of small bells, alternately upright and turned down [ME < OFr, vair, orig., variegated < L varius: see VARIOUS]

Vaishnava (vaish´nэ vэ) •n. in Hinduism, a devotee of Vishnu [Sans vaisnava, of Vishnu, after Visnu, VISHNU]

Vaisya (vais´yэ) •n. a member of the Hindu business and agricultural caste, next below the Kshatriya

val 1 valuation 2 value

Val d'Aosta (väl' dä ôs´tä) var. of VALLE D'AOSTA

Valais (vå le´) canton of SW Switzerland: 2,020 sq. mi. (5,231 sq. km); pop. 218,000

valance (væl´эns; also veil´-) •n. 1 a short drapery or curtain hanging from the edge of a bed, shelf, table, etc., often to the floor 2 a short drapery or facing of wood or metal across the top of a window, concealing curtain rods, etc. val´anced •adj. [ME, after ? VALENCE, center for textile manufacturing]

Valdai Hills (väl dai´) range of hills in W European Russia, between St. Petersburg & Moscow, forming a watershed for rivers flowing to the Baltic & those flowing south & southeast, esp. the Volga

Valdemar (väl´dэ mär') alt. sp. of WALDEMAR I

Valdez (væl di:z´) port in S Alas., on the Gulf of Alaska: southern terminus of oil pipeline originating at Prudhoe Bay: pop. 4,100 [after A. Valdés, 18th-c. Sp naval officer]

vale (vei´li:, vä´lei) •interj., n. farewell [L] vale (veil) •n. [Old Poet.] VALLEY [ME < OFr val < L vallis, VALLEY]

valediction (væl'э dik´shэn) •n. 1 the act of bidding or saying farewell 2 something said in parting; farewell utterance [< L valedictus, pp. of valedicere, to say farewell < vale, farewell (imper. of valere, to be well: see VALUE) + dicere, to say: see DICTION]

valedictorian (væl'э dik tör´i: эn) •n. in schools and colleges, the student, usually the one highest in scholastic rank in the graduating class, who delivers the valedictory: see SALUTATORIAN

valedictory (væl'э dik´tэr i:) •adj. said or done at parting, by way of farewell; uttered as a valediction pl. -ries a farewell speech, esp. one delivered at a graduation ceremony •n. [< L valedictus (see VALEDICTION) + -ORY]

valence (vei´lэns) •n. Chem. 1 the capacity of an element or radical to combine with another to form molecules, as measured by the number of hydrogen or chlorine atoms which one radical or one atom of the element will combine with or replace (e.g.: oxygen has a valence of two, i.e., one atom of oxygen combines with two hydrogen atoms to form the water molecule, H2O) 2 any of the units of valence which a particular element may have Also va´len·cy, pl. -cies [LL valentia, worth, capacity < L, vigor < valens, prp. of valere, to be strong: see VALUE] Valence (vå läñs´) city in SE France: pop. 68,000

valence electrons the orbital electrons in the outermost shell of an atom which largely determine its properties

Valencia (vэ len´shi: э, -shэ, -si: э; Sp vä len´θyä) 1 region & ancient kingdom in E Spain, on the Mediterranean 2 seaport in this region: pop. 752,000 3 city in N Venezuela: pop. 568,000

Valencian Community region comprising three provinces of E Spain: 8,998 sq. mi. (23,304 sq. km); pop. 3,646,000; cap. Valencia

Valenciennes (vэ len'si: enz´; Fr vå läñ syen´) city in N France, near the Belgian border: pop. 41,000 •n. a flat bobbin lace having a simple floral pattern on a background of fine, diamond-shaped mesh: also Valenciennes lace or Val lace

Valens (vei´lэnz), (Flavius) c. A.D. 328-378; emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (364-378): brother of Valentinian I

-valent (vei´lэnt) Chem. suffix meaning 1 having a specified valence 2 having a specified number of valences Although both the Greek set of prefixes (mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, etc.) and the Latin (uni-, bi-, ter-, quadri-, quinque-, etc.) are used with -valent, the Latin set is preferred when designating the number of valences an element exhibits and the Greek when designating the specific valence of some atom or radical [< L valens: see VALENCE]

valentine (væl´эn tain') •n. 1 a) a sweetheart chosen or greeted on Saint Valentine's Day b) one's sweetheart 2 a) a greeting card or note sent to a real or pretended sweetheart on this day, and containing a message of sentimental love b) a burlesque of this, often sent anonymously 3 a gift presented on Saint Valentine's Day [ME < OFr] Valentine (væl´эn tain') 1 a masculine name 2 Saint (3d cent. A.D.); Christian martyr of Rome: his day is Feb. 14 [ME < L Valentinus < Valens, a masculine name < valens, prp.: see VALENCE]

Valentine's Day short for SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentinian (væl'эn tin´i: эn) 1 masculine name adopted by three Roman emperors 2 Valentinian I c. A.D. 321-375; ruled, 364-375: brother of Valens 3 Valentinian II c. A.D. 371-392; ruled, 375-392: son of Valentinian I 4 Valentinian III c. A.D. 419-455; ruled, 425-455 [L Valentinius]

Valentino (væl'эn ti:´nou), Rudolph (born Rodolfo Alfonzo Raffaelo Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla) 1895-1926; U.S. motion-picture actor, born in Italy

valerate (væl´эr eit') •n. a salt or ester of valeric acid

valerian (vэ lir´i: эn) •n. 1 any of a genus (Valeriana) of plants of the valerian family, with clusters or spikes of white, pink, red, or purplish flowers 2 a drug made from the dried rhizomes and roots of the garden heliotrope, formerly used as a sedative and antispasmodic •adj. designating a family (Valerianaceae, order Dipsacales) of dicotyledonous plants, chiefly of the Northern Hemisphere, including corn salad and spikenard [ME < MFr valériane < ML valeriana, valerian, prob. after Valeria, province in Pannonia, where the plants were grown] Valerian (vэ lir´i: эn) (L. name Publius Licinius Valerianus) c. A.D. 190-260; Rom. emperor (253-260)

valeric acid (vэ ler´ik, -lir´-) any of four isomeric fatty acids, C4H9COOH, some originally found in valerian root, but all now made synthetically: used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, flavors, perfumes, etc.

Valerie (væl´эr i:) a feminine name: dim. Val; equiv. Fr. Valérie Also Va·ler·i·a (vэ lir´i: э)

Valéry (vå lei ři:´), Paul (Ambroise) (pöl) 1871-1945; Fr. poet & essayist

valet (væl´it; often, vэ lei´, væ lei´, væl´ei; Fr vå le´) •n. 1 a man's personal manservant who takes care of the man's clothes, helps him in dressing, etc. 2 an employee, as of a hotel, who cleans or presses clothes, or performs other personal services Æ 3 a rack for hanging coats, hats, a change of clothing, etc. •vt., vi. to serve (a person) as a valet •adj. referring to any of various services, as one in a hotel for cleaning and pressing clothes [Fr, a groom, yeoman < OFr vaslet, young man, page < VL *vassellittus, double dim. < Gaul *vasso-, servant (akin to MIr foss, Welsh gwas) < IE *uposto-, one who stands by < *upo- (> UP¹) + base *stā-, to STAND]

valet de chambre (vå let shäñ´břª) pl. va·lets de cham·bre (vå let) VALET (sense 1) [Fr]

valet parking a service providing attendants who take, park, and later return vehicles to guests, customers, etc., as of a restaurant val·et´-park' •vt.

valetudinarian (væl'э tu:'dэ ner´i: эn, -tyu:'-) •n. 1 a person in poor health; invalid 2 one who thinks constantly and anxiously about one's own health •adj. 1 characterized by or in poor health; sickly 2 anxiously concerned about one's health Also val'e·tu´di·nar'y, pl. -nar'ies val'e·tu'di·nar´i·an·ism' •n. [< L valetudinarius, sickly, infirm, an invalid < valetudo (gen. valetudinis), state of health, sickness < valere, to be strong: see VALUE]

valgus (væl´gэs) •n. 1 clubfoot in which the foot is turned outward 2 any similar bent position, as of the knee or hip •adj. 1 bent or twisted outward 2 loosely, knock-kneed [ModL < L, bowlegged < IE *wolg- < base *wel-, to turn > WALK]

Valhalla (væl hæl´э, väl häl´э) Norse Myth. the great hall where Odin receives and feasts the souls of heroes fallen bravely in battle Also Val·hall (væl hæl´) [ModL < ON valhöll (gen. valhallar), hall of the slain < valr, slaughter, the slain (< IE base *wel-, to tear, wound, corpse > L volnus, Gr oulē, a wound) + höll; akin to OE heall, HALL]

valiant (væl´yэnt) •adj. 1 full of or characterized by valor or courage; brave 2 resolute; determined {made a valiant effort} SYN. BRAVE val´iance or val´ian·cy •n. val´iant·ly •adv. [ME < OFr vaillant, prp. of valoir < L valere, to be strong: see VALUE]

valid (væl´id) •adj. 1 having legal force; properly executed and binding under the law 2 well-grounded on principles or evidence; able to withstand criticism or objection, as an argument; sound 3 effective, effectual, cogent, etc. 4 [Rare] robust; strong; healthy 5 Logic correctly derived or inferred according to the rules of logic val´id·ly •adv. val´id·ness •n. SYN.—valid applies to that which cannot be objected to because it conforms to law, logic, the facts, etc. [a valid criticism]; sound refers to that which is firmly grounded on facts, evidence, logic, etc. and is therefore free from error [a sound method]; cogent implies such a powerful appeal to the mind as to appear conclusive [cogent reasoning]; convincing implies such validity as to persuade or overcome doubts or opposition [a convincing argument]; telling suggests the power to have the required effect by being forcible, striking, relevant, etc. [a telling rejoinder] —ANT. fallacious [Fr valide < L validus, strong, powerful (in ML, valid) < valere, to be strong: see VALUE]

validate (væl´э deit') -dat'ed, -dat'ing •vt. 1 to make binding under the law; give legal force to; declare legally valid 2 to prove to be valid; confirm the validity of; verify SYN. CONFIRM val'i·da´tion •n. [< ML validatus, pp. of validare < L validus: see VALID]

validity (vэ lid´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. the state, quality, or fact of being valid in law or in argument, proof, authority, etc. [Fr validité < L validitas, strength]

valine (væl´i:n, -in; veil´-) •n. a white, crystalline, essential amino acid, (CH3)2CHCH(NH2)COOH, found in small quantities in many proteins: see AMINO ACID [< (iso)val(eric acid) + -INE³]

valinomycin (væl'э nou mai´sin) •n. an antibiotic polypeptide isolated from soil bacteria, that promotes the movement of potassium ions in cells [< prec. + -MYCIN]

valise (vэ li:s´, -li:z´) •n. [Old-fashioned] a piece of hand luggage [Fr < ML valisia < valesium < ?]

Valium (væl´i: эm) trademark for DIAZEPAM [arbitrary coinage]

Valkyrie (væl kir´i:, væl´ki ri:) •n. Norse Myth. any of the maidens of Odin who conduct the souls of heroes slain in battle to Valhalla and attend them there Val·kyr´i·an •adj. [ON valkyrja, lit., chooser of the slain < valr, those slain (see VALHALLA) + kjōsa, to CHOOSE]

Valladolid (væl'э dou lid´; Sp vä'lyä ðou li:ð´) city in NC Spain: pop. 330,000

vallation (væ lei´shэn) •n. 1 a wall or earthwork formerly used for military defense 2 the art or process of building such a defense [LL vallatio < L vallatus, pp. of vallare, to protect with a rampart < vallum, rampart, WALL]

Valle d'Aosta (väl´ei dä ôs´tä) region of NW Italy: 1,260 sq. mi. (3,263 sq. km); pop. 112,000

vallecula (væ lek´yu: lэ) pl. -lae' (-li:') •n. a groove or furrow in a plant or animal structure, as the depression between the epiglottis and the base of the tongue val·lec´u·lar •adj. [ModL < LL, dim. < L vallis, VALLEY]

Vallejo (vэ lei´hou, -lei´ou), Cé·sar (sei´zär) 1892-1938; Peruvian poet Vallejo (vэ lei´hou, -lei´ou) seaport in W Calif. near Oakland: pop. 109,000 [after Mariano G. Vallejo (1808-90), owner of the site]

Valletta (vä let´ä) seaport & capital of Malta, on the island of Malta: pop. 18,000

valley (væl´i:) pl. -leys •n. 1 a stretch of low land lying between hills or mountains and usually having a river or stream flowing through it 2 the land drained or watered by a great river system {the Mississippi valley} 3 any long dip or hollow, as the trough of a wave 4 Archit. the trough formed where two slopes of a roof meet, or where the roof meets a wall [ME valey < OFr valee < val < L vallis, vale < IE base *wel-, to turn, roll > WALK, WELL¹]

Valley Forge village in SE Pa., on the Schuylkill River: scene of Washington's winter encampment (1777-78) [after an iron forge located on Valley Creek]

Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes region in Katmai National Monument, SW Alas., in which steam and gases are emitted from thousands of earth vents

Valois (vå lwå´) ruling family of France (1328-1589) Valois (vå lwå´) former duchy in NC France

valonia (vэ lou´ni: э) •n. the acorn cups of an oak (Quercus aegilops) of Europe and Asia, used in dyeing, tanning, etc. [It vallonia < ModGr balania, evergreen oak < Gr balanos, acorn: see GLAND¹]

valor (væl´эr) •n. marked courage or bravery Brit., etc. sp. val´our [ME, monetary worth < OFr valour < LL valor, worth < L valere, to be strong: see VALUE]

valorization (væl'эr i zei´shэn) •n. 1 a stabilizing or fixing of prices, usually by government action 2 a conferring of value upon something [Port valorização < valorizar, to valorize < valor, a price, worth < LL: see VALOR]

valorize (væl´эr aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to stabilize or fix the price of by valorization 2 to confer value or greater value upon {to valorize the achievements of a minor poet} [Port valorizar: see VALORIZATION]

valorous (-эr эs) •adj. having or showing valor; courageous; brave val´or·ous·ly •adv. val´or·ous·ness •n. [ME < OFr valeureux < ML valorosus]

Valparaiso (væl'pэ rei´zou, -rai´sou) seaport in central Chile: pop. 267,000: also Val·pa·ra·í·so (Sp väl'pä řä i:´sô)

Valpolicella (væl'pou lэ chel´э, väl'-) •n. a light, dry Italian red wine [It, after valley where made]

Valsalva maneuver (væl sæl´vэ) any forced expiratory effort against a closed or blocked air passage, as blowing hard with nose and mouth closed during an ascent or descent in an aircraft to equalize pressure in the ears [after Antonio Valsalva (1666-1723), It anatomist]

valse (våls) •n. a waltz [Fr < Ger walzer: see WALTZ]

valuable (væl´yu: э bэl, -yэ bэl) •adj. 1 a) having material value; being worth money b) having great value in terms of money {a valuable diamond} 2 of great merit, use, or service; highly important, esteemed, etc. •n. an article of value, esp. one of small size, as a piece of jewelry: usually used in pl. SYN. COSTLY val´u·a·bly •adv.

valuate (væl´yu: eit') -at'ed, -at'ing •vt. to set a value on; appraise val´u·a'tor •n. [back-form. < fol.]

valuation (væl'yu: ei´shэn) •n. 1 the act of determining the value or price of anything; evaluation; appraisal 2 determined or estimated value or price on the market 3 estimation of the worth, merit, etc. of anything val'u·a´tion·al •adj. val'u·a´tion·al·ly •adv. [OFr valuacion]

value (væl´yu:) •n. 1 a fair or proper equivalent in money, commodities, etc., esp. for something sold or exchanged; fair price or return 2 the worth of a thing in money or goods at a certain time; market price 3 estimated or appraised worth or price; valuation 4 purchasing power {the fluctuating value of the dollar} 5 that quality of a thing according to which it is thought of as being more or less desirable, useful, estimable, important, etc.; worth or the degree of worth 6 that which is desirable or worthy of esteem for its own sake; thing or quality having intrinsic worth 7 [pl.] the social principles, goals, or standards held or accepted by an individual, class, society, etc. 8 precise meaning, as of a word 9 denomination, as of a postage stamp, playing card, etc. 10 Art a) relative lightness or darkness of a color b) proportioned effect, as of light and shade, in an artistic work 11 Math. the quantity or amount for which a symbol stands {to determine the value of x} 12 Music the relative duration of a note, tone, or rest 13 Phonet. the phonological equivalent of a given letter {the values of i in English sin, sine, sing} •vt. val´ued, val´u·ing 1 to estimate the value of; set a price for or determine the worth of; appraise 2 to place a certain estimate of worth on in a scale of values {to value health above wealth} 3 to think highly of; esteem {to value a friendship} SYN. APPRECIATE, WORTH¹ val´u·er •n. [ME < OFr, fem. of valu, pp. of valoir, to be strong, be worth < L valere < IE base *wal-, to be strong > WIELD]

value judgment an estimate made of the worth, goodness, etc. of a person, action, event, or the like, esp. when making such judgment is not called for or desired

value-added tax (-æd´эd) a form of indirect sales tax paid on products and services at each stage of production or distribution, based on the value added at that stage and included in the cost to the ultimate consumer

valued (-yu:d) •adj. 1 estimated; appraised {a painting valued at ten thousand dollars} 2 highly thought of; esteemed {a valued friend}

value-free (væl´yu: fri:´) •adj. not altered or influenced by value judgments {value-free research}

valueless (-yu: lis) •adj. of no value or use; worthless

valuta (vэ lu:t´э) •n. the value of a currency; specif., the exchange value of a currency with reference to another currency [It, value]

valvate (væl´veit') •adj. 1 having a valve or valves 2 Bot. a) meeting without overlapping, as the petals of some flower buds b) opening by valves, as a pea pod [L valvatus, having folding doors < valva: see VALVE]

valve (vælv) •n. 1 orig., either of the halves of a double door or any of the leaves of a folding door 2 a gate regulating the flow of water in a sluice, channel, etc. 3 Anat. a membranous fold or structure which permits body fluids to flow in one direction only, or opens and closes a tube, chamber, etc. 4 Bot. a) any of the segments into which a pod or capsule separates when it bursts open b) a lidlike part in some anthers, through which pollen is discharged c) either of the boxlike halves forming the cell walls of a diatom 5 Elec., Radio a) a device consisting of a metal in contact with a solution or compound across the boundary of which current flows in one direction only b) Brit., etc. term for ELECTRON TUBE 6 Mech. a) any device in a pipe or tube that permits a flow in one direction only, or regulates the flow of whatever is in the pipe, by means of a flap, lid, plug, etc. acting to open or block passage b) the flap, lid, plug, etc. 7 Music a device in certain brass instruments, as the trumpet, that opens (or closes) an auxiliary to the main tube, lengthening (or shortening) the air column and lowering (or raising) the pitch 8 Zool. a) each separate part making up the shell of a mollusk, barnacle, etc. b) any of the parts forming the sheath of an ovipositor in certain insects •vt., vi. valved, valv´ing 1 to fit with or make use of a valve or valves 2 to regulate the flow of (a fluid) by means of a valve or valves valve´less •adj. [ME, a door leaf < L valva, leaf of a folding door, akin to volvere, to roll: see WALK; senses 3, 4, 8 < ModL valva < L]

valve trombone see TROMBONE

valve-in-head engine (-in hed´) a type of internal-combustion engine, as in many automobiles, having the intake and exhaust valves in the cylinder head instead of the block

valvular (væl´vyэ lэr) •adj. 1 having the form or function of a valve 2 having a valve or valves 3 of a valve or valves; esp., of the valves of the heart Also val´var (-vэr)

valvule (-vyu:l') •n. a small valve: also valve´let (-lit) [Fr < ModL valvula, dim. < L valva]

valvulitis (vælv'yэ lait´эs) •n. inflammation of a valve, esp. of the heart [ModL < valvula (see VALVULE) + -ITIS]

vamoose (væ mu:s´) -moosed´, -moos´ing •vi., vt. [Old Slang] to leave quickly; go away (from) hurriedly Also va·mose´ (-mous´), -mosed´, -mos´ing [< Sp vamos, let us go < L vadamus, 1st pers. pl., pres. subj. of vadere, to go: see WADE]

vamp¹ (væmp) •n. 1 the part of a boot or shoe covering the instep and, in some styles, the toes: see OXFORD, illus. 2 [< the v.] a) something patched up or fixed up to seem new; patchwork b) something patched on c) Music a simple, improvised introduction or interlude, esp. a series of chords, as between popular numbers by a dance bandvt. 1 to put a vamp on; provide or mend with a new vamp 2 to patch (up); repair 3 to invent; fabricate 4 Music to improvise •vi. Music to play a vamp [ME vampe < OFr avampié < avant, before + pié, pied, foot < L pes (gen. pedis), FOOT]

vamp² (væmp) short for VAMPIRE (sense 3) •n. •vt. to seduce or beguile (a man) by using feminine charms •vi. to act the part of a vamp

vampire (væm´pair') •n. 1 in folklore and popular superstition, a corpse that becomes reanimated and leaves its grave at night to suck the blood of sleeping persons 2 an unscrupulous person who preys ruthlessly on others, as a blackmailer or usurer 3 a beautiful but unscrupulous woman who seduces, exploits, and then ruins men 4 short for VAMPIRE BAT [Fr < Ger vampir, of Slav orig., as in Serb vàmpīr]

vampire bat 1 any of a family (Desmodontidae) of tropical American bats that live on vertebrate blood, esp. of stock animals, and sometimes transmit rabies and a trypanosome disease of horses 2 any of various other bats mistakenly believed to feed on blood

vampirism (væm´pair iz'эm, -pэ riz'эm) •n. 1 superstitious belief in vampires 2 the habits or practices of vampires in folklore; specif., bloodsucking 3 the act or practice of preying ruthlessly on other people

Van (vän) salt lake in E Turkey: c. 1,450 sq. mi. (3,755 sq. km)

Van Allen radiation belt (væn æl´эn) 1 a broad, doughnut-shaped region surrounding the earth and composed of high-energy electrons and protons trapped in the earth's magnetic field at heights between c. 400 km (c. 250 mi.) and c. 64,370 km (c. 40,000 mi.) 2 such a region surrounding other planets, as Jupiter [after James A. Van Allen (1914- ), U.S. physicist]

Van Buren (væn byur´эn), Martin 1782-1862; 8th president of the U.S. (1837-41)

Van de Graaff generator (væn´ di gräf') an electrostatic generator using a movable insulating belt to produce potentials of millions of volts [after R. J. Van de Graaff (1901-67), U.S. physicist]

van der Waals (vän dэř vålz´), Jo·han·nes Di·de·rik (yô hä´nэs di:´dэ řik) 1837-1923; Du. physicist

van der Waals' forces weak attractive forces between electrically neutral atoms and molecules [after prec.]

Van Diemen's Land (væn di:´mэnz) old name of TASMANIA

Van Doren (væn dör´эn) 1 Carl (Clinton) 1885-1950; U.S. editor & writer 2 Mark (Albert) 1894-1972; U.S. poet & literary critic: brother of Carl

Van Dyck (væn daik´), Sir Anthony 1599-1641; Fl. painter, in England after 1632: also sp. Van·dyke´

van Eyck (væn aik) 1 Hubert or Huy·brecht (hoi´břeHt') c. 1366-1426; Fl. painter 2 Jan (yän) died 1441; Fl. painter: brother of Hubert

van Gogh (væn gou´, -gökh´; Du vän khôkh´), Vincent 1853-90; Du. painter

Van Rensselaer (væn ren´sэ lэr, -lir'), Stephen 1764-1839; U.S. politician & general

Van Vleck (væn vlek´), John Has·brouck (hæz´bruk) 1899-1980; U.S. physicist

van¹ (væn) •n. short for VANGUARD [abbrev. < VANGUARD]

van² (væn) •n. 1 [Archaic] a winnowing machine 2 [Old Poet.] a wing [ME vanne < MFr van < L vannus, van, FAN¹]

van³ (væn) •n. 1 a closed truck or wagon for moving furniture, carrying freight or people, etc. 2 a small, closed truck for utility use, as deliveries, repairs, etc., or customized for use as an RV, airport limousine, etc. 3 [Brit., etc.] a) a closed railroad car for baggage, etc. b) a delivery wagon or truck c) TRAILER (sense 3) •vt. vanned, van´ning to transport in a van •vi. to travel in a recreational van van´ner •n. [contr. < CARAVAN]

van4 (væn; Du vän) •prep. of; from: in Dutch family names it originally indicated place of origin [Du; akin to Ger von]

vanadate (væn´э deit') •n. a salt or ester of vanadic acid

vanadic (vэ næd´ik, -nei´dik) •adj. designating or of compounds containing trivalent or pentavalent vanadium

vanadic acid any of a series of acids containing vanadium that apparently do not exist in the free state but are represented in various vanadates

vanadinite (vэ næd´ªn ait') •n. a hexagonal mineral, Pb5(VO4)3Cl, an ore of vanadium consisting of lead vanadate and lead chloride, occurring in bright, usually red, yellow, or brown, crystals [< fol. + -IN¹ + -ITE¹]

vanadium (vэ nei´di: эm) •n. a rare, malleable, ductile, silver-white metallic chemical element: it is alloyed with steel, to which it adds tensile strength, and is used in nuclear applications, etc.: symbol, V; at. wt., 50.942; at. no., 23; sp. gr., 6.11; melt. pt., 1,890°C; boil. pt., 3,380°C [ModL < ON Vanadis, FREYA + -IUM: name proposed (1831) by BERZELIUS for element discovered independently by N. G. Sefström (1787-1845), Swed chemist, and previously (1801) by A. M. del Rio (1764-1849), Mex metallurgist]

vanadium steel a steel alloy containing 0.15 to 0.25 percent vanadium to harden and toughen it

vanadous (væn´э dэs, vэ nei´dэs) •adj. designating or of compounds containing divalent or trivalent vanadium

Vanbrugh (væn bru:´; Brit usually væn´brэ), Sir John 1664-1726; Eng. dramatist & architect

Vancouver (væn ku:´vэr) 1 island of British Columbia, Canada, off the SW coast: 12,408 sq. mi. (32,136 sq. km) 2 seaport in SW British Columbia, opposite this island, on the Strait of Georgia: pop. 410,000 (met. area 1,268,000) 3 city in SW Wash., on the Columbia River, opposite Portland, Oreg.: pop. 46,000 4 Mount mountain of the St. Elias Range, on the Alas.-Yukon border: 15,700 ft. (4,785 m) [after Capt. George Vancouver (1757-98), Brit explorer]

vanda (væn´dэ) •n. any of a genus (Vanda) of small-flowered tropical orchids of the Eastern Hemisphere, having racemes of fragrant white, lilac, blue, or greenish flowers [ModL < Hindi vandā, mistletoe < Sans, a parasitic plant]

Vandal (væn´dэl) •n. 1 a member of an East Germanic people who ravaged Gaul, Spain, and N Africa and sacked Rome (455 A.D.) 2 [v-] a person who, out of malice or ignorance, destroys or spoils any public or private property, esp. that which is beautiful or artistic •adj. 1 of the Vandals: also Van·dal·ic (væn dæl´ik) 2 [v-] like or characteristic of a vandal; ruthlessly destructive [L Vandalus < Gmc base *wandal- > OE Wendil, ON Vendill]

vandalism (væn´dэl iz'эm) •n. the actions or attitudes of a vandal; malicious or ignorant destruction of public or private property, often, specif., of that which is beautiful or artistic van'dal·is´tic •adj.

vandalize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to destroy or damage (public or private property) maliciously

Vanderbilt (væn´dэr bilt), Cornelius 1794-1877; U.S. capitalist & railroad & steamship industrialist

Vandyke (væn daik´) •n. short for: 1 VANDYKE BEARD 2 VANDYKE COLLAR •adj. of, or in the style of, Van Dyck or in the fashion of the subjects of his portraits

Vandyke beard a closely trimmed, pointed beard

Vandyke brown 1 a deep-brown pigment used by Van Dyck 2 any of several other brown pigments or colors

Vandyke collar a broad linen or lace collar with a deeply indented edge

vane (vein) •n. 1 a flat piece of metal, strip of cloth, etc. set up high to swing with the wind and show which way it is blowing; weather vane 2 any of several flat or curved pieces set around an axle and rotated about it by moving air, water, etc. [the vanes of a windmill], or mechanically rotated to move the air or water [the vanes of a turbine] or to compress the air [the vanes of a supercharger] 3 a projecting fixed or movable plate or strip of metal attached to a rocket, missile, etc. to provide stability or guidance 4 a target set to slide on a leveling rod, for use in surveying 5 any of the sights on a compass, quadrant, etc. 6 a) the flat part of a feather with barbs; web (see FEATHER, illus.) b) a feather on an arrow, used to stabilize flight vaned •adj. [S Brit var. of fane, small flag or pennon < OE fana, a flag < PGmc *fanan- < IE base *pan- > PANE] Vane (vein), Sir Henry (or Harry) 1613-62; Eng. Puritan statesman: colonial governor of Mass. (1636-37)

Vänern (ve´nэrn), Lake largest lake in Sweden, in the SW part: c. 2,150 sq. mi. (5,568 sq. km): also Vä´ner (-nэr)

Vanessa (vэ nes´э) a feminine name

vang (væŋ) •n. Naut. either of two ropes running from the end of a gaff to the deck, used to steady the gaff [Du, a catch < vangen, to catch: for base see FANG]

vanguard (væn´gärd') •n. 1 the part of an army which goes ahead of the main body; the van 2 the leading position or persons in a movement, field of endeavor, etc. [ME vaunt garde < OFr avant-garde < avant, before (see AVAUNT) + garde (see GUARD)]

vanilla (vэ nil´э) •n. 1 any of a genus (Vanilla) of climbing tropical American orchids with fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers 2 the podlike, immature capsule (vanilla bean) of some of these plants 3 an extract of these capsules, used as a flavoring in cooking, confections, etc. •adj. 1 of or flavored with vanilla {vanilla ice cream} 2 [Colloq.] bland, plain, or basic: used esp. in the phrase plain vanilla [in allusion to the commonness of vanilla ice cream] [ModL < Sp vainilla, small pod, husk, dim. of vaina, pod < L vagina, a case, pod, sheath]

vanillic (vэ nil´ik) •adj. of or derived from vanilla or vanillin

vanillin (vэ nil´in, væn´э lin) •n. a fragrant, white, crystalline substance, (CH3O)(OH)C6H3CHO, produced from the vanilla bean or made synthetically: used for flavoring, in the manufacture of perfumes, etc.

Vanir (vä´nir') •n.pl. Norse Myth. a race of gods who originally fight with but are later reconciled with the Aesir [ON]

vanish (væn´ish) •vi. 1 to go or pass suddenly from sight; disappear 2 to cease to exist; come to an end 3 Math. to become zero •n. Phonet. the faint last part of any of certain diphthongs, as the sound like a faint (i:) ending the diphthong in boy van´ish·er •n. SYN.—vanish implies a sudden, complete, often mysterious passing from sight or existence [the stain had vanished overnight]; disappear, a more general term, implies either a sudden or gradual passing from sight or existence [customs that have long since disappeared]; fade suggests a gradual, complete or partial disappearance, as by losing color or brilliance [the design on this fabric won't fade, his fame has faded] —ANT. appear, emerge [ME vanissen, aphetic < prp. stem of OFr esvanir < VL *exvanire, for L evanescere: see EVANESCE]

vanishing point 1 the point where parallel lines receding from the observer seem to come together 2 a time, place, or stage at which something disappears or ceases to exist

vanity (væn´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 any thing or act that is vain, futile, idle, or worthless 2 the quality or fact of being vain, or worthless; futility 3 the quality or fact of being vain, or excessively proud of oneself or one's qualities or possessions; self-conceit 4 a thing about which one is vain or conceited Æ 5 short for VANITY CASE Æ 6 a small table or ledge with a mirror for use while putting on cosmetics, combing one's hair, etc.; dressing table Æ 7 a bathroom cabinet with a washbowl set in the top SYN. PRIDE [ME vanite < OFr vanité < L vanitas, emptiness, worthlessness < vanus, vain: see WANT]

vanity case a woman's small traveling case fitted for carrying cosmetics, toilet articles, etc.

Vanity Fair in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, a fair always going on in the town of Vanity, symbolic of worldly folly, frivolity, and show

vanity plate a license plate having letters and numbers chosen by the owner, who usually pays an extra fee

vanity press (or publisher) a press or publishing house that publishes books only at the author's own expense

vanquish (væŋ´kwish, væn´-) •vt. 1 to conquer or defeat in battle; force into submission 2 a) to defeat in any conflict, as in argument b) to overcome (a feeling, condition, etc.); suppress SYN. CONQUER van´quish·er •n. [ME venquissen < OFr veinquis-, inflectional stem of veinquir < L vincere, to conquer: see VICTOR]

van't Hoff (vänt hôf´), Ja·co·bus Hen·dri·cus (yä kou´bэs hen dři:´kэs) 1852-1911; Du. physical chemist

vantage (væn´tij) •n. 1 a) a position, situation, etc. more advantageous than that of an opponent b) a position that allows a clear and broad view, understanding, etc. (also vantage point) 2 [Chiefly Brit.] Tennis AD² [ME < Anglo-Fr, aphetic for OFr avantage: see ADVANTAGE]

Vanua Levu (vä nu:´ä lev´u:) second largest of the Fiji Islands, northeast of Viti Levu: 2,137 sq. mi. (5,534 sq. km)

Vanuatu (vän'wä tu:´) country on a group of islands in the SW Pacific, west of Fiji: formerly an Anglo-French condominium, it became an independent republic (1980): 5,700 sq. mi. (14,762 sq. km); pop. 136,000; cap. Vila

vanward (væn´wэrd) •adj. in the vanguard, or front, as of an army •adv. toward the vanguard

Vanzetti (væn zet´i:), Bar·to·lo·me·o (bär'tou lou mei´ou) 1888-1927; It. anarchist in the U.S.: see SACCO, Nicola

vapid (væp´id) •adj. 1 tasteless; flavorless; flat 2 uninteresting; lifeless; dull; boring {vapid talk} SYN. INSIPID vap´id·ly •adv. vap´id·ness •n. [L vapidus, stale, insipid, akin to vappa, stale wine: for IE base see VAPOR]

vapidity (væ pid´э ti:) •n. 1 the state or quality of being vapid; flatness; dullness; insipidity 2 pl. -ties a dull or uninteresting remark, idea, etc.

vapor (vei´pэr) •n. 1 a) visible particles of moisture floating in the air, as fog, mist, or steam b) any cloudy or imperceptible exhalation, as smoke or noxious fumes 2 the gaseous form of any substance which is usually a liquid or a solid 3 a) any substance vaporized for use in machinery, medical therapy, etc. b) a mixture of such a vaporized substance with air, as the explosive mixture in an automotive cylinder 4 [Now Rare] anything insubstantial or worthless 5 [pl.] [Archaic] a) exhalations from the stomach believed to be harmful to one's health b) hypochondria or depressed spirits (often with the) •vi. 1 to rise or pass off in the form of vapor; evaporate 2 to give off vapor 3 to indulge in idle talk or boasting •vt. VAPORIZE va´por·er •n. va´por·like' •adj. [ME vapour < Anglo-Fr < MFr vapeur < L vapor < IE base *wep-, to give off vapors]

vapor lock a blocking or slowing of the flow of liquid fuel to an internal-combustion engine, caused by excessive heat which vaporizes fuel in the fuel line, fuel pump, etc.

vapor pressure the pressure of a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid or solid form: also called vapor tension

vapor trail CONTRAIL

vaporetto (vä'pô řet´tô; E væp'э ret´ou) pl. -ret´ti (-ti:) •n.or Eng. -tos a large motorboat used for public transportation on the canals of Venice [It, dim. of vapore, steamboat < Fr vapeur, short for bateau à vapeur, calque of E STEAMBOAT]

vaporific (vei'pэr if´ik) •adj. VAPOROUS

vaporing (vei´pэr iŋ) •adj. boastful, bombastic, etc. •n. boastful or extravagant talk or behavior

vaporish (-ish) •adj. 1 like or full of vapor 2 [Archaic] having, or inclined to have, the vapors; in low spirits

vaporize (vei´pэr aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to change into vapor, as by heating or spraying va'por·i·za´tion •n.

vaporizer (-ai'zэr) •n. a device for vaporizing liquids; specif., a) an atomizer, esp. one for creating steam or vaporizing medicated liquid for medicinal purposes b) a jet in a carburetor

vaporous (vei´pэr эs) •adj. 1 giving off or forming vapor 2 full of vapor; foggy; misty 3 like, having the nature of, or characteristic of vapor 4 a) fleeting, unsubstantial, fanciful, etc. (said of things, ideas, etc.) b) given to such ideas or talk va´por·ous·ly •adv. va´por·ous·ness or va'por·os´i·ty (-pэr äs´э ti:) •n. [LL vaporosus]

vapory (vei´pэr i:) •adj. VAPOROUS

vapour (-pэr) •n., vi., vt. Brit., etc. sp. of VAPOR

vaquero (vä ker´ou) pl. -ros •n. [Southwest] a man who herds cattle; cowboy [Sp < vaca, cow < L vacca]

var (vär) •n. Elec. the unit of reactive power, equal to one reactive volt-ampere [< v(olt) a(mpere) r(eactive)] var abbrev. 1 variable 2 variant(s) 3 variation 4 variety 5 various VAR visual-aural (radio) range

vara (vä´rä) •n. 1 in Spain and Spanish America, an old unit of linear measure, varying from about 31 to 33 inches 2 an old Texas unit of linear measure equal to 33.33 inches (84.67 centimeters) 3 a unit of area, the square vara [Sp & Port, lit., rod, stick < L, forked pole < varus, bent: see VACILLATE]

varactor (vэ ræk´tэr) •n. Electronics a semiconductor diode capacitor whose capacitance varies with the voltage applied [VAR(IABLE) + (RE)ACT(ANCE) + -OR]

Varanasi (vэ rän´э si:') city in Uttar Pradesh, NE India, on the Ganges: pop. 794,000

Varangian (vэ ræn´ji: эn) •n. a member of a Scandinavian people who settled in Russia in the 9th cent. and, under Rurik, founded the first Russian dynasty

Vardar (vär´där) river in Macedonia & N Greece, flowing into the Gulf of Salonika: c. 230 mi. (370 km)

Varèse (vå řez´; E vэ reiz´, -rez´), Ed·gard (ed gäř´) (born Edgar Victor Achille Charles Varèse) 1883-1965; U.S. composer, born in France

variable (ver´i: э bэl, vær´-) •adj. 1 apt or likely to change or vary; changeable, inconstant, fickle, fluctuating, etc. 2 that can be changed or varied 3 Biol. tending to deviate in some way from the type; aberrant 4 Math. having no fixed value •n. 1 anything changeable; esp., a quality or quantity that varies or may vary 2 a shifting wind 3 Astron. short for VARIABLE STAR 4 Math., Physics a) a part of a mathematical expression that may assume any value in a specific, related set of values b) a symbol for such a part: opposed to CONSTANT var'i·a·bil´i·ty or var´i·a·ble·ness •n. var´i·a·bly •adv. [ME < MFr < L variabilis]

variable (interest) rate an interest rate that varies in relation to fluctuations in the market rates of interest, as over the time period of a loan or mortgage

variable rate mortgage a mortgage involving a loan with a variable interest rate over the period of the loan

variable star a star whose brightness varies from time to time as the result of causes operating outside the earth's atmosphere: see CEPHEID (VARIABLE), RR LYRAE VARIABLES

variance (ver´i: эns, vær´-) •n. 1 the quality, state, or fact of varying or being variant; a changing or tendency to change 2 degree of change or difference; divergence; discrepancy 3 official permission to bypass regulations; specif., permission to make nonconforming use of zoned property 4 an active disagreement; quarrel; dispute 5 Accounting the difference between the actual costs of production and the standard or expected costs 6 Law a lack of agreement between two parts of a legal proceeding which should agree, as between a statement and the evidence offered in support of it 7 Physical Chem. the number of degrees of freedom of a system: see PHASE RULE 8 Statistics the square of the standard deviation at variance not in agreement or accord; conflicting [OFr < L variantia < L varians, prp. of variare, to VARY]

variant (-эnt) •adj. 1 varying; different; esp., different in some way from others of the same kind or class, or from some standard or type 2 [Archaic] variable; changeable •n. anything that is variant, as a different spelling of the same word, a different version of a tale, myth, or literary passage, etc. [OFr < L varians: see VARIANCE]

variate (-it) •n. 1 VARIANT 2 VARIABLE (n. 1) 3 RANDOM VARIABLE

variation (ver'i: ei´shэn, vær'-) •n. 1 a) the act, fact, or process of varying; change or deviation in form, condition, appearance, extent, etc. from a former or usual state, or from an assumed standard b) the degree or extent of such change 2 DECLINATION (sense 3) 3 a thing that is somewhat different from another of the same kind 4 Astron. a change in or deviation from the mean motion or orbit of a planet, satellite, etc. 5 Ballet a solo dance 6 Biol. a) a deviation from the usual or parental type in structure or form b) an organism showing such deviation 7 Math. the manner in which two or more quantities change relative to one another 8 Music the repetition of a theme or musical idea with changes or embellishments in harmony, rhythm, key, etc., esp. any of a series of such repetitions developing a single theme var'i·a´tion·al •adj. [ME variacion < OFr < L variatio]

varicella (vær'э sel´э) •n. CHICKENPOX var'i·cel´loid' (-oid') •adj. [ModL, dim. of variola: see VARIOLA]

varicellate (vær'э sel´it, -eit) •adj. Zool. marked with small or indistinct ridges: said of certain shells [< ModL varicella (dim. of VARIX) + -ATE¹]

varices (vær´э si:z') •n. pl. of VARIX

varico- (vær´э kou) combining form an enlarged, twisted blood or lymph vessel, esp. a vein {varicocele} Also, before a vowel, var´ic- [< L varix, VARIX]

varicocele (vær´э kou si:l') •n. a varicose condition of the veins of the spermatic cord in the scrotum [prec. + -CELE]

varicolored (ver´i kûl'эrd, vær´-) •adj. of several or many colors [< L varius, varied + COLORED]

varicose (vær´э kous') •adj. 1 abnormally and irregularly swollen or dilated {varicose veins} 2 resulting from varicose veins {varicose ulcer} [L varicosus < varix (gen. varicis), VARIX]

varicosis (vær'э kou´sis) •n. a varicose condition of the veins [ModL: see VARIC(O)- & -OSIS]

varicosity (-käs´э ti:) •n. 1 the condition of being varicose 2 pl. -ties VARIX

varicotomy (-kät´э mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical excision of a varix, esp. of a varicose vein [VARICO- + -TOMY]

varied (ver´i:d, vær´-) •adj. 1 of different kinds; various 2 showing different colors; variegated 3 changed; altered var´ied·ly •adv.

variegate (ver´i: э geit', vær´-) -gat'ed, -gat'ing •vt. 1 to make varied in appearance by differences, as in colors 2 to give variety to; diversify [< L variegatus, pp. of variegare < varius: see VARY]

variegated (-id) •adj. 1 marked with different colors in spots, streaks, etc.; parti-colored 2 having variety in character, form, etc.; varied; diversified

variegation (ver'i: э gei´shэn, vær'-) •n. 1 a variegating or being variegated 2 diversity or variety in character or appearance; specif., varied coloration

varier (ver´i: эr, vær´-) •n. a person who varies

varietal (vэ rai´э tэl) •adj. 1 of, connected with, or characterizing a variety 2 constituting a distinct variety; specif., designating a wine that bears the name of the variety of grape from which it is made •n. a varietal wine va·ri´e·tal·ly •adv.

variety (vэ rai´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the state or quality of being various or varied; absence of monotony or sameness 2 a different form of some thing, condition, or quality; sort; kind {varieties of cloth} 3 a number of different things thought of together; collection of varied things {a variety of items in the attic} 4 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] short for VARIETY SHOW 5 a) Biol. loosely, a group having characteristics of its own within a species or subspecies; subdivision of a species b) Bot. a variant form of wild plants that has been recognized as a true taxon ranking below subspecies, even though it may have been brought under cultivation: e.g., cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) c) Zool. any of a group of widely separated variants within a single interbreeding population •adj. of or in a variety show [Fr variété < L varietas]

variety meat meat other than flesh; specif., any of the edible organs, as the liver, kidneys, heart, etc.

variety show a show, as on television or in a nightclub, made up of different kinds of acts, as comic skits, songs, dances, etc. See also VAUDEVILLE

variety store a retail store that sells a wide variety of relatively small and inexpensive items

variform (ver´э förm', vær´-) •adj. varied in form; having various forms

variocoupler (ver'i: ou kûp´lэr, vær'-) •n. a radio-frequency transformer consisting of a movable coil within a fixed coil [VARIO(US) + COUPLER]

variola (vэ rai´э lэ) •n. any of a group of virus diseases characterized by pustular eruptions, including smallpox, cowpox, and horsepox [ModL < ML, a pustule, prob. altered (based on L varius, various, mottled: see VARY) < L varus, pustule, pimple: see VARIX]

variolar (-lэr) •adj. VARIOLOUS

variole (ver´i: oul') •n. 1 a tiny pit or depression, as on some parts of an insect 2 any of the whitish spherules in variolite [Fr < ML variola: see VARIOLA]

variolite (-i: э lait') •n. a basaltic or andesite rock in which whitish spherules of feldspar are embedded [Ger variolit < ML variola (see VARIOLA): from its pitted surface]

varioloid (ver´i: э loid', vær´-) •n. a mild form of variola occurring in a person who has had a previous attack or who has been vaccinated [ModL varioloides: see VARIOLA & -OID]

variolous (vэ rai´э lэs) •adj. of or relating to variola, or smallpox [ModL variolosus]

variometer (ver'i: äm´эt эr, vær'-) •n. 1 any of various devices designed to measure or record small variations in some quantity, as air pressure 2 a geophysical instrument for measuring magnetic forces or determining variations of magnetic force, esp. at different places on the earth 3 Electronics a continuously variable inductor consisting of a coil mounted within and in series with a fixed coil, with the inner coil capable of rotation so as to vary the total inductance [VARIO(US) + -METER]

variorum (ver'i: ör´эm, vær'-) •n. 1 an edition or text, as of a literary work, containing notes by various editors, scholars, etc. 2 an edition of a work containing variant versions of the text •adj. of such an edition or text [L, of various (scholars), gen. pl. of varius: see VARIOUS]

various (ver´i: эs, vær´-) •adj. 1 differing one from another; of several kinds 2 a) several or many {found in various sections of the country} b) individual; distinct {bequests to the various heirs} 3 many-sided; versatile {the various bounty of nature} 4 characterized by variety; varied in nature or appearance 5 [Obs.] changeable SYN. DIFFERENT var´i·ous·ly •adv. [L varius, diverse, parti-colored: see VARY]

varistor (vэ ris´tэr) •n. Electronics a semiconductor resistor whose resistance varies with the voltage applied [VAR(IOUS) + (RES)ISTOR]

varix (vær´iks) pl. var´i·ces' (-э si:z') •n. 1 Med. a permanently and irregularly swollen or dilated blood or lymph vessel, esp. a vein; varicose vein 2 Zool. a prominent ridge across the whorls of various univalve shells, showing an earlier position of the outer lip [L < IE base *wer-, a raised area (of skin or land) > WART, L varus, pimple]

varlet (vär´lit) •n. [Archaic] 1 an attendant 2 a youth serving as a knight's page 3 a scoundrel; knave [ME < OFr, a servant, page, var. of vaslet (see VALET): for sense development see KNAVE]

varletry (-li tri:) •n. [Archaic] 1 varlets collectively 2 the rabble; mob

varmint or varment (vär´mэnt) •n. [Colloq. or Dial.] a person or animal regarded as troublesome or objectionable: also used as a generalized epithet of disparagement [dial. var. of VERMIN, with unhistoric -t]

Varna (vär´nä) seaport in NE Bulgaria, on the Black Sea: pop. 295,000 varna (vûr´nэ) •n. CASTE (sense 1) [Hindi varna, color < Sans, orig. prob. covering < IE base *wer-, to close, cover > WEIR]

varnish (vär´nish) •n. 1 a) a preparation made of resinous substances dissolved in oil (oil varnish) or in alcohol, turpentine, etc. (spirit varnish), used to give a hard, glossy surface to wood, metal, etc. b) any of various natural or prepared products used for the same purpose 2 the hard, glossy surface produced 3 a surface gloss or smoothness, as of manner •vt. 1 to cover with varnish; brush varnish on 2 to impart a smooth surface or appearance to, as with varnish 3 to make superficially attractive or acceptable, as by embellishing 4 to polish up; adorn var´nish·er •n. [ME vernisch < OFr verniz < ML veronix, veronice, a resin < Gr Berenikē (now Benghazi), ancient city in Cyrenaica]

varnish tree any of a number of trees whose sap or juice can be made into a varnish or LACQUER (n. 2)

varoom (vэ ru:m´) •n., vi. var. of VROOM

Varro (vær´ou), (Marcus Terentius) 116-27 B.C.; Rom. scholar & writer

varsity (vär´sэ ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the main team that represents a university, college, or school in some competition, esp. an athletic one 2 [Brit., etc. Colloq.] university •adj. designating or of the VARSITY (n. 1) team or competition [contr. & altered < UNIVERSITY]

Varuna (vûr´u nэ, vær´-) the Hindu god of the cosmos [Sans]

varus (ver´эs, vær´-) •n. an abnormal bent or turned condition, esp. of the foot •adj. abnormally bent or turned: said of the hip, knee, or foot [ModL < L, bent, knock-kneed: see VACILLATE]

varve (värv) •n. an annual layer of sedimentary material deposited in lakes and fiords by glacial meltwaters, consisting of two distinct bands of sediment deposited in summer and winter [Swed varv, a layer < varva, to turn, change < ON hverfa < IE base *kwerp-, to turn > CARPUS]

vary (ver´i:, vær´-) var´ied, var´y·ing •vt. 1 to change in form, appearance, nature, substance, etc.; alter; modify 2 to make different from one another 3 to give variety to; diversify {to vary one's reading} 4 Music to repeat (a theme or idea) with changes in harmony, rhythm, key, etc. •vi. 1 to undergo change in any way; become different 2 to be different or diverse; differ {varying opinions} 3 to deviate, diverge, or depart (from) 4 Biol. to show variation SYN. CHANGE [ME varien < OFr varier < L variare, to vary, change < varius, various, prob. < IE base *wa-, to bend, turn > VACILLATE]

vas (væs) pl. va·sa (vei´sэ) •n. Anat., Biol. a vessel or duct va·sal (vei´sэl) •adj. [L, a vessel, dish]

vas deferens (væs def´э renz') pl. va·sa de·fe·ren·ti·a (vei´sэ def'э ren´shi: э) the highly convoluted duct that conveys sperm from the testicle to the ejaculatory duct of the penis [ModL < L vas, vessel + deferens, carrying down: see DEFERENCE]

Vasari (vä zä´ři:), Gior·gio (jôř´jô) 1511-74; It. architect, painter, & biographer of artists

Vascongadas (väs'kôn gä´ðäs) Sp. name of The BASQUE COUNTRY

vascular (væs´kyэ lэr) •adj. of or having vessels or ducts; specif., a) designating or of the vessels, or system of vessels, for conveying blood or lymph b) designating or of the specialized conducting cells, xylem and phloem, that convey water and foods in vascular plants; also, designating or of plants that have xylem and phloem vas'cu·lar´i·ty (-lær´э ti:) •n. [ModL vascularis < L vasculum, small vessel, dim. of vas, vessel, dish]

vascular bundle Bot. an isolated unit of the conducting system of vascular plants, consisting of xylem and phloem, frequently with other interspersed cells or a sheath of thick-walled cells

vascular cylinder STELE (sense 3)

vascular plant a plant having specialized tissues (xylem and phloem) that conduct water and synthesized foods, as any fern, gymnosperm, or angiosperm; tracheophyte

vascular ray MEDULLARY RAY (sense 2)

vascular tissue Bot. tissue composed of the xylem and phloem ducts that carry sap and food through any of the vascular plants

vasculum (væs´kyэ lэm) pl. -la (-lэ) •n.or -lums a covered metal case, often cylindrical, used by botanists to carry specimen plants [ModL < L: see VASCULAR]

vase (veis, veiz; chiefly Brit väz) •n. an open container of metal, glass, pottery, etc., usually rounded and of greater height than width, used for decoration, for holding flowers, etc. [Fr < L vas, vessel, dish]

vasectomy (væ sek´tэ mi:, vэ-) pl. -mies •n. the surgical removal or tying of the vas deferens to prevent the passing of sperm: used as a form of birth control vas·ec´to·mize, -mized, -miz·ing, •vt. [VAS(O)- + -ECTOMY]

Vaseline (væs'э li:n´, væs´э li:n') trademark for PETROLATUM •n. [v-] petrolatum [arbitrary coinage < Ger was(ser), WATER + Gr el(aion), OIL + -INE³]

Vashti (væsh´ti:, -tai') Bible the queen of Ahasuerus of Persia, disowned by him when she slighted his command for her presence at a feast: Esth. 1 [Heb]

vaso- (væs´ou, -э; vei´zou, -zэ) combining form 1 the blood vessels {vasogenic} 2 the vas deferens {vasotomy} 3 vasomotor {vasoinhibitor} Also, usually before a vowel, vas- [< L vas, vessel]

vasoconstrictor (væs'ou kэn strik´tэr, vei´zou-) •adj. Physiol. causing constriction of the blood vessels •n. a nerve or drug causing such constriction vas'o·con·stric´tion •n. [prec. + CONSTRICTOR]

vasodilator (-dai´leit'эr) •adj. Physiol. causing dilatation of the blood vessels •n. a nerve or drug causing such dilatation vas'o·dil'a·ta´tion (-dil'э tei´shэn) or vas'o·di·la´tion (-dai´lei´shэn) •n. [VASO- + DILATOR]

vasoinhibitor (-in hib´it эr) •n. a drug or other agent inhibiting the action of the vasomotor nerves vas'o·in·hib´i·to'ry (-tör'i:) •adj. [VASO- + INHIBITOR]

vasomotor (-mout´эr) •adj. Physiol. regulating the size in diameter of blood vessels: said of a nerve, nerve center, or drug [VASO- + MOTOR]

vasopressin (-pres´эn) •n. a hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, that increases blood pressure by constricting the arterioles [< VASO- + PRESS(URE) + -IN¹]

vasopressor (-pres´эr) •adj. causing a rise in blood pressure by constricting blood vessels •n. a substance causing such a rise [VASO- + PRESS(URE) + -OR]

vasospasm (væs´ou spæz'эm) •n. a spastic constriction of a blood vessel [VASO- + SPASM]

vasotomy (væ sät´э mi:, vэ-) pl. -mies •n. a surgical cutting of the vas deferens [VASO- + -TOMY]

vasovagal (væs'ou vei´gэl, vei'zou-) •adj. pertaining to the action of the vagus nerve upon the circulatory system, as in causing a fainting spell [VASO- + VAGAL]

vassal (væs´эl) •n. 1 in the Middle Ages, a person who held land under the feudal system, doing homage and pledging fealty to an overlord, and performing military or other duties in return for his protection; feudal tenant 2 a subordinate, subject, servant, slave, etc. •adj. 1 of or like a vassal; dependent, servile, etc. 2 being a vassal [OFr < ML vassalus, manservant, extension of vassus, servant < Celt: for IE base see VALET]

vassalage (-ij) •n. 1 the state of being a vassal 2 the homage, loyalty, and service required of a vassal 3 dependence, servitude, or subjection 4 lands held by a vassal; fief 5 a body of vassals [OFr < ML vassallagium]

vast (væst, väst) •adj. very great in size, extent, amount, number, degree, etc. •n. [Archaic] a vast space vast´ly •adv. vast´ness •n. [L vastus: see WASTE]

Västerås (ves'tэ řôs´) city in SC Sweden, on Lake Malar: pop. 117,000

vastitude (væs´tэ tu:d', -tyu:d') •n. 1 the quality or condition of being vast 2 a vast extent or space

vasty (væs´ti:) vast´i·er, vast´i·est •adj. [Archaic] vast; immense; huge

VAT (vi:'ei'ti:´, væt) value-added tax vat (væt) •n. 1 a large container for holding liquids, as those to be used in a manufacturing process or those to be stored for fermenting or ripening 2 a liquid containing a vat dye •vt. vat´ted, vat´ting 1 to place or store in a vat 2 to treat in a vat [ME, Southern dial. var. of fat < OE fæt, cask, vessel, akin to Ger fass, container < IE base *pēd-, *pōd-, to seize, hold > Latvian puôds, a pot]

vat dye a colorfast dye made soluble for application to cloth, then oxidized and thus rendered insoluble in the cloth vat´-dyed´ •adj.

vatic (væt´ik) •adj. of or characteristic of a prophet; prophetic [< L vates, prophet < IE base *wāt-, to be mentally excited > OE wōd, mad, MIr fāth, prophecy]

Vatican (væt´i kэn) 1 the papal residence, consisting of a group of buildings in Vatican City 2 papal government or authority •adj. 1 of this residence, government, or authority 2 designating either of the Roman Catholic Ecumenical Councils held in St. Peter's Basilica in 1869-1870 (Vatican I) or 1962-1965 (Vatican II) [L Vaticanus (mons), Vatican (hill)]

Vatican City independent papal state constituted in 1929 as an enclave in Rome: it includes the Vatican & St. Peter's Basilica: 108 acres (0.438 sq. km); pop. c. 1,000

vaticinal (vэ tis´э nэl) •adj. having the nature of or characterized by prophecy; prophetic [< L vaticinus (see VATICINATE) + -AL]

vaticinate (-neit') -nat'ed, -nat'ing •vt., vi. to prophesy; predict vat·i·ci·na·tion (væt'э si nei´shэn) •n. va·tic´i·na'tor •n. [< L vaticinatus, pp. of vaticinari, to foretell, prophesy < vaticinus, prophetic < vates, seer, prophet: see VATIC]

Vatter (vet´эr), Lake lake in SC Sweden: 733 sq. mi. (1,898 sq. km): Swed. name Vät·tern (vet´tэřn)

vatu (vä´tu) pl. -tu •n.or -tus the basic monetary unit of Vanuatu: see MONEY, table

Vauban (vou bäñ´), Marquis de (dэ) (Sébastien Le Prestre) 1633-1707; Fr. military engineer

Vaud (vou) canton of W Switzerland: 1,240 sq. mi. (3,216 sq. km); pop. 529,000; cap. Lausanne

vaudeville (voud´vil, vöd´-; vou´dэ-, vö´dэ-) •n. Æ 1 a) a stage show consisting of mixed specialty acts, including songs, dances, comic skits, acrobatic performances, etc. b) this branch of entertainment generally 2 [Now Rare] a comic theatrical piece interspersed with songs and dances 3 [Obs.] a satirical or topical song, often with pantomime [Fr, earlier vau-de-vire, after Vau-de-Vire, the valley of the Vire (in Normandy), famous for light, convivial songs]

vaudevillian (voud vil´yэn, vöd-; vou'dэ-, vö'dэ-) •n. one who performs in vaudeville •adj. of or like vaudeville

Vaudois (vou dwå´) WALDENSES [Fr < ML Valdenses: see WALDENSES]

Vaughan (vön) 1 a masculine name: also sp. Vaughn [< a family name] 2 Henry 1622-95; Eng. poet

Vaughan Williams , Ralph 1872-1958; Eng. composer

vault¹ (völt) •n. 1 an arched roof, ceiling, or covering of masonry 2 an arched chamber or space, esp. when underground 3 a cellar room used for storage, as of wine 4 a) a burial chamber b) a concrete or metal enclosure in the ground, into which the casket is lowered at burial Æ 5 a secure room, often with individual safe-deposit boxes, for the safekeeping of valuables or money, as in a bank 6 an underground cave with a naturally arched roof 7 the sky as a vaultlike canopy 8 Anat. any arched cavity or structure {the cranial vault} •vt. 1 to make a vault over; cover with a vault 2 to build in the form of a vault •vi. to curve like a vault [ME voute < OFr < VL *volvita, an arch, vault < *volvitus, pp. of *volvitare, intens. of L volvere, to turn around, roll: see WALK]

vault² (völt) •vi. to jump, leap, or spring, as over a barrier or from one position to another, esp. with the help of the hands supported on the barrier, etc., or with the aid of a long pole •vt. to vault over {to vault a fence} •n. [sense 1 < the v.; sense 2 < Fr volte, a turn, bound, leap < It volta < LL *volta: see VAULT1] 1 an act of vaulting 2 a leap or bound made by a horse; curvet vault´er •n. [MFr volter < OIt voltare < VL *volvitare: see VAULT1]

vaulted (völ´tid) •adj. 1 having the form of a vault; arched 2 built with an arched roof; having a vault

vaulting¹ (-tiŋ) •n. 1 the building of a vault or vaults 2 the arched work forming a vault 3 a vault or vaults

vaulting² (-tiŋ) •adj. 1 leaping or leaping over 2 overreaching; unduly confident {vaulting ambition} 3 used in vaulting

vaunt (vönt, vänt) •vi. to boast; brag •vt. to boast about (something); brag of •n. a boast; brag SYN. BOAST² vaunt´ed •adj. vaunt´er •n. [ME vaunten < OFr vanter < LL(Ec) vanitare < L vanus, VAIN]

vaunt-courier (vönt´kur´i: эr, vänt´-) •n. 1 [Obs.] a soldier sent out in advance of an army 2 a forerunner; precursor [aphetic < Fr avant-courrier]

vav (väv, vöv) name of the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ו) •n. [Heb vāv, lit., a hook]

vavasor (væv´э sör') •n. in the Middle Ages, a feudal vassal next in rank below a baron, holding lands from a superior lord and having vassals under himself Also vav´a·sour' (-sur') [ME vavasour < OFr < ML vavassor, prob. < vassus vassorum, vassal of vassals < Gaul *vasso-: see VALET]

vaward (vä´wörd) •n. archaic var. of VANGUARD [LME, contr. < vaumwarde, for NormFr avantwarde < OFr avant-garde: see VANGUARD]

vb 1 verb 2 verbal

VC 1 Vice-Chairman 2 Vice-Chancellor 3 Vice-Consul 4 Victoria Cross 5 Viet Cong

VCR (vi:'si:'är´) •n. VIDEOCASSETTE RECORDER

VD venereal disease

V-Day (vi:´dei') •n. a day of victory [v(ictory)]

VDT (vi:'di:'ti:´) •n. a video display terminal

VDU (vi:'di:'yu:´) •n. a visual display unit

've have: a shortened form used in contractions {we've seen it}

V-E Day (vi:´i:´) May 8, 1945, the day on which the surrender of Germany was announced, officially ending the European phase of World War II [ < v(ictory in) E(urope)]

Veadar (vei'ä där´, vi:´ä där') •n. an extra month of the Jewish year, occurring about once every three years between Adar and Nisan: see JEWISH CALENDAR [Heb wĕ-adhār, lit., and Adar, hence second Adar]

veal (vi:l) •n. 1 the flesh of a young calf, used as food 2 VEALER [ME vel < OFr veel < L vitellus, little calf, dim. of vitulus, calf, orig. prob. yearling; akin to vetus, old: see VETERAN]

veal piccata (pik kä´tэ, pi:k-) a slice of veal that has been breaded and sautéed, served with a sauce of lemon, white wine, and butter

vealer (-эr) •n. a calf, esp. as intended for food

Veblen (veb´lэn), Thor·stein (Bunde) (θör´stain) 1857-1929; U.S. economist & social scientist