Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 N‑COUNT A vac is an electric machine which sucks up dust and dirt from carpets. Vac is an abbreviation for 'vacuum cleaner'. [INFORMAL ]

va|can|cy /ve I kənsi/ (vacancies )

1 N‑COUNT A vacancy is a job or position which has not been filled. □  Most vacancies are at senior level, requiring appropriate qualifications.

2 N‑COUNT If there are vacancies at a building such as a hotel, some of the rooms are available to rent.

va|cant /ve I kənt/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If something is vacant , it is not being used by anyone. □  Half way down the coach was a vacant seat.

2 ADJ If a job or position is vacant , no one is doing it or in it at present, and people can apply for it. □  The post of chairman has been vacant for some time.

3 ADJ A vacant look or expression is one that suggests that someone does not understand something or that they are not thinking about anything in particular. □  She had a kind of vacant look on her face. ●  va|cant|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  He looked vacantly out of the window.

va|cate /ve I ke I t, [AM ] ve I ke I t/ (vacates , vacating , vacated ) VERB If you vacate a place or a job, you leave it or give it up, making it available for other people. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He vacated the flat and went to stay with an uncle. □ [V n] He recently vacated his post as Sales Director.

va|ca|tion /vəke I ʃ ^ə n, [AM ] ve I -/ (vacations , vacationing , vacationed )

1 N‑COUNT A vacation is a period of the year when universities and colleges, and in the United States also schools, are officially closed. □  During his summer vacation, he visited Russia.

2 N‑COUNT [oft on/from N ] A vacation is a period of time during which you relax and enjoy yourself away from home. [AM ] □  They planned a late summer vacation in Europe. □  We went on vacation to Puerto Rico. in BRIT, use holiday 3 N‑UNCOUNT If you have a particular number of days' or weeks' vacation , you do not have to go to work for that number of days or weeks. [AM ] in BRIT, use holiday 4 VERB If you are vacationing in a place away from home, you are on vacation there. [AM ] □ [V prep/adv] Myles vacationed in Jamaica. □ [V ] He was vacationing and couldn't be reached for comment. in BRIT, use holiday

va|ca|tion|er /ve I ke I ʃənə ^r / (vacationers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Vacationers are people who are on vacation in a particular place. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use holidaymakers

vac|ci|nate /væ ks I ne I t/ (vaccinates , vaccinating , vaccinated ) VERB [usu passive] If a person or animal is vaccinated , they are given a vaccine, usually by injection, to prevent them from getting a disease. □ [be V -ed + against ] Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper. □ [have n V -ed against n] Have you had your child vaccinated against whooping cough? □ [be/get V -ed] Measles is spreading again because children are not being vaccinated. ●  vac|ci|na|tion /væ ks I ne I ʃ ^ə n/ (vaccinations ) N‑VAR □  Parents were too frightened to bring their children for vaccination. □  Anyone who wants to avoid the flu should consider getting a vaccination.

vac|cine /væ ksiːn, [AM ] væksiː n/ (vaccines ) N‑VAR A vaccine is a substance containing a harmless form of the germs that cause a particular disease. It is given to people, usually by injection, to prevent them getting that disease. □  Anti-malarial vaccines are now undergoing trials. □  Fortunately there are two types of vaccine against the disease.