📖 V — The English dictionary · page 16

volunteer — Everyday, meaning 1: A volunteer is someone who does a job without being paid, because they want to help.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A volunteer is someone who offers to do something nobody forced them to do.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To volunteer is to offer to do something, or to work without pay.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To volunteer information is to tell it without being asked.↗ Example: Can I have a volunteer to hand out the books?↗ · My mum volunteers at the food bank every Saturday.↗ · She volunteered to read her poem aloud.↗ · Twenty volunteers picked up litter on the beach.↗ · Volunteers at the animal shelter walk the dogs.↗ · Each of 12 volunteers worked 3 hours, so they gave 36 hours in all.↗ · He volunteered the answer before anyone asked.↗ · The king then promised a large reward to the soldier who would volunteer for the post.↗

vomit — Everyday, meaning 1: To vomit is to be sick: food and liquid come back up from your stomach and out of your mouth.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Vomit is the food and liquid that comes out when you are sick.↗ Example: He vomited in the car on the way to Grandma's.↗ · She felt sick and then vomited.↗ · The cleaner cleaned up the vomit.↗ · Tell a teacher if you feel like you might vomit.↗ · Food poisoning can make you vomit.↗ · Drink small sips of water after vomiting.↗ · Stay home from school for two days after vomiting.↗ · The cat vomited a fur ball.↗ · And the land was defiled, therefore I did visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.↗ (Torah LEV.18.25, JPS 1917)↗ · that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.↗ (Torah LEV.18.28, JPS 1917)↗ · Ye shall therefore keep all My statutes, and all Mine ordinances, and do them, that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, vomit you not out.↗ (Torah LEV.20.22, JPS 1917)↗ · For all tables are full of filthy vomit, and no place is clean.↗ (Prophets ISA.28.8, JPS 1917)↗ · The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.↗ (Writings PRO.23.8, JPS 1917)↗ · As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is a fool that repeateth his folly.↗ (Writings PRO.26.11, JPS 1917)↗

vote — Everyday, meaning 1: To vote is to choose someone or something by showing your hand, ticking a paper or pressing a button, so a group can decide.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (noun) A vote is one person's choice in such a decision.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (noun) A vote is also the act of choosing as a group: let's have a vote.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: The right to vote in elections.↗ Example: Let's vote on the class pet's name.↗ · I voted for the red team.↗ · She won the school council vote with 12 votes.↗ · Adults vote in elections.↗ · Women once could not vote.↗ · Put your hand up to vote.↗ · Count the votes on a tally chart.↗ · The Fox did not vote for the Monkey and was much disgusted with the Animals for electing so unworthy a ruler.↗

voter — Everyday, meaning 1: A voter is a person who votes in an election or is allowed to vote.↗ Example: Voters chose a new mayor.↗ · My mum is a voter.↗ · First-time voters were excited.↗ · The voters queued at the polling station.↗ · Every voter has one vote.↗ · Voter turnout was high.↗

vouch — Everyday, meaning 1: To say that you know someone is honest, good or telling the truth, and you will take responsibility for that.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To say that something is true or good because you have seen or tried it yourself.↗ Example: I can vouch for Sam; he would never steal.↗ · The teacher vouched for her honesty.↗ · I can vouch for this pizza place; it's brilliant.↗ · Nobody could vouch for the stranger, so he was not let in.↗ · Mum vouched for my story about the broken window.↗ · I can't vouch for the weather tomorrow!↗ · If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness; (Writings JOB.33.23, JPS 1917)↗

voucher — Everyday, meaning 1: A voucher is a piece of paper or code you can exchange for goods or services, or that gives a discount.↗ Example: I got a gift voucher for my birthday.↗ · Use this voucher to get 10% off.↗ · The voucher is for a free ice cream.↗ · Mum used vouchers at the shop.↗ · The book voucher can be spent at any bookshop.↗ · Vouchers have a set value.↗

vouchsafe — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal, old) To give or tell something kindly, as a favour, or as if from a high position: he vouchsafed no answer.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (church, old prayers) To grant: «Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.».↗ Example: The Caterpillar vouchsafed no reply.↗ · He vouchsafed only a nod.↗ · «Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.»↗ · She did not vouchsafe a single word about her trip.↗ · The king vouchsafed his blessing.↗ · The cat vouchsafed us one glance and walked away.↗ · Sometimes they wrote letters to the Princess, but no answer was vouchsafed to them.↗

vow — Everyday, meaning 1: A vow is a serious promise, often a solemn or religious one.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To vow is to promise firmly that you will do something.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (church) Wedding vows are the promises a couple make when they marry; monks and nuns take vows to God.↗ Example: The knight made a vow to protect the king.↗ · She vowed never to tell the secret.↗ · At the wedding they said their vows.↗ · The monks took vows of silence.↗ · I vowed to practise the piano every day.↗ · Breaking a vow is a serious thing.↗ · The friends vowed to stay in touch.↗ · Indeed, I have made a vow never again to leave Bagdad."↗ · But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.↗ (Torah DEU.23.22, JPS 1917)↗ · And if a woman vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath, (Torah NUM.30.10, JPS 1917)↗ · I am the God of Beth-el, where thou didst anoint a pillar, where thou didst vow a vow unto Me.↗ (Torah GEN.31.13, JPS 1917)↗ · Thy vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank-offerings unto Thee.↗ (Writings PSA.56.13, JPS 1917)↗ · How he swore unto the LORD, and vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob: (Writings PSA.132.2, JPS 1917)↗ · 'Sacrifices of peace-offerings were due from me; this day have I paid my vows.↗ (Writings PRO.7.14, JPS 1917)↗

vowel — Everyday, meaning 1: A vowel is a speech sound made with the mouth open and the air flowing freely, like the sound in "cat" or "see".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A vowel is also one of the letters a, e, i, o, u (and sometimes y) that stand for these sounds.↗ Example: The word "dog" has one vowel.↗ · A, e, i, o and u are the vowels.↗ · "Rain" has a long vowel sound.↗ · Every English word needs at least one vowel sound.↗ · In "sky" the letter y works as a vowel.↗ · Put "an" before words that start with a vowel sound, like "an apple".↗ · How many vowels are in the word "elephant"?↗ · The teacher said the short vowel in "pin" changes to a long vowel in "pine".↗ · Note that the oldest MSS. copies of the "Sepher Yetzirah " have no vowel points : the latest editions have them.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · Ginsburg asserts that the system of vowel polluting was invented by a Rabbi Mocha in Palestine about a.d.↗ 570, who designed it to assist his pupils.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · In usual Hebrew grammatical terminology, the term ‘mothers’ is reserved for the אִמּוֹת קְרִיאָה immot qeriʼah, ‘mothers of reading’ (whence Latin matres lectionis), the letters אהו״י Alef-Heh-Waw-Yod which can serve to represent either consonants or vowels.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗

voyage — Everyday, meaning 1: A voyage is a long journey, especially by sea or in space.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To voyage is to travel a long way, usually by ship.↗ Example: The voyage across the ocean took many weeks.↗ · Captain Cook sailed on long voyages.↗ · The ship sank on its maiden voyage.↗ · The space probe began its voyage to Mars.↗ · We read a story about a voyage to a magic island.↗ · The sailors voyaged far from home.↗ · After a six days' voyage they at length sighted land.↗

voyager — Everyday, meaning 1: A voyager is a person who goes on a long journey, especially by sea or into space.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (a name) Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are two space probes sent from Earth to visit the outer planets; they have now travelled further than anything else people have made, out beyond the planets.↗ Example: Voyager 1 is the most distant human-made object.↗ · The Voyager probes took the first close photos of Neptune.↗ · Polynesian voyagers sailed huge distances using the stars.↗ · The voyager kept a diary of the long sea crossing.↗ · Voyager carries a golden record with music from Earth.↗ · Radio signals from Voyager take many hours to reach us.↗ · The ship's voyagers were glad to see land.↗ · In the story, a young voyager sails to a mysterious island.↗ · "What a sweet song that was!" exclaimed one of the voyagers.↗

vulgar — Everyday, meaning 1: Vulgar means rude and crude, especially about the body or toilet.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Vulgar means lacking good taste; showy and cheap-looking.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (maths, UK, old) A vulgar fraction is a common fraction written with a top and bottom number, like 3/4.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Vulgar can also mean common or everyday, the ordinary name people use for something rather than a formal one.↗ Example: Please don't tell vulgar jokes in class.↗ · He was told off for using vulgar language.↗ · The huge gold car looked rather vulgar.↗ · Write 0.75 as a vulgar fraction: 3/4.↗ · Some people think shouting in a restaurant is vulgar.↗ · The old book called simple fractions «vulgar fractions».↗ · [455] Popovskie, from pop, the vulgar name for a priest, the Greek +pappas+.↗

vulnerability — Everyday, meaning 1: Vulnerability is being easy to hurt, harm or attack, in body or feelings.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A vulnerability is a weak point that could let something bad happen.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (computers) A vulnerability is a weakness in a program that hackers could use.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Vulnerability can also mean being open and honest about your feelings, even when it is hard.↗ Example: The castle's vulnerability was its weak back gate.↗ · Babies and old people have a greater vulnerability to cold.↗ · Achilles' heel was his only vulnerability.↗ · The update fixed a vulnerability in the app.↗ · Talking about your worries shows vulnerability, and that takes courage.↗ · Islands have a vulnerability to rising seas.↗ · The team found the vulnerability in the other side's defence.↗

vulnerable — Everyday, meaning 1: Vulnerable means easily hurt, harmed or attacked, in body or feelings.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Vulnerable people are those who need extra protection, such as young children, very old people or people who are ill.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) Open to something bad: «vulnerable to colds».↗ Example: Babies are very vulnerable and need care.↗ · The castle's weak gate made it vulnerable to attack.↗ · I felt vulnerable when I told everyone my secret.↗ · Old people are more vulnerable to the flu.↗ · Pandas are a vulnerable species.↗ · Never share your password; it makes you vulnerable online.↗ · The charity helps vulnerable families.↗

vulture — Everyday, meaning 1: A vulture is a large bird with a bald or nearly bald head that eats the meat of dead animals.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) A vulture is a person who waits to take advantage of someone else's trouble or bad luck.↗ Example: Vultures circled high over the savannah.↗ · A vulture's bald head stays clean when it feeds.↗ · Vultures are nature's clean-up crew.↗ · Without vultures, dead animals would spread disease.↗ · The condor is a kind of New World vulture.↗ · As soon as the shop closed, buyers came like vultures for the cheap stock.↗ · My aunt is a real culture vulture — she visits every museum.↗ · The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let Lambikin pass.↗ · and the pelican, and the carrion-vulture, and the cormorant; (Torah DEU.14.17, JPS 1917)↗ · and the horned owl, and the pelican, and the carrion-vulture; (Torah LEV.11.18, JPS 1917)↗ · But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the great vulture, and the bearded vulture, and the ospray; (Torah DEU.14.12, JPS 1917)↗ · Doth the vulture mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?↗ (Writings JOB.39.27, JPS 1917)↗ · They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.↗ (Writings JOB.9.26, JPS 1917)↗ · For thus saith the LORD: Behold, he shall swoop as a vulture, and shall spread out his wings against Moab.↗ (Prophets JER.48.40, JPS 1917)↗