Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

vac|il|late /væ s I le I t/ (vacillates , vacillating , vacillated ) VERB If you vacillate between two alternatives or choices, you keep changing your mind. [FORMAL ] □ [V + between ] She vacillates between men twice her age and men younger than herself. □ [+ on , V ] We cannot vacillate on the question of the party's leadership.

va|cu|ity /vækjuː I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] If you refer to the vacuity of something or someone, you are critical of them because they lack intelligent thought or ideas. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  His vacuity was a handicap in these debates. □  …a campaign notable for its intellectual vacuity and personal nastiness.

vacu|ous /væ kjuəs/ ADJ If you describe a person or their comments as vacuous , you are critical of them because they lack intelligent thought or ideas. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  Male models are not always so vacuous as they are made out to be.

vacuum /væ kjuːm, -juːəm/ (vacuums , vacuuming , vacuumed )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone or something creates a vacuum , they leave a place or position which then needs to be filled by another person or thing. □  His presence should fill the power vacuum which has been developing over the past few days.

2 PHRASE If something is done in a vacuum , it is not affected by any outside influences or information. □  Moral values cannot be taught in a vacuum.

3 VERB If you vacuum something, you clean it using a vacuum cleaner. □ [V n] I vacuumed the carpets today. □ [V ] It's important to vacuum regularly.

4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A vacuum is a space that contains no air or other gas.

va cuum bot|tle (vacuum bottles ) N‑COUNT A vacuum bottle is the same as a vacuum flask . [AM ]

va cuum clean|er (vacuum cleaners ) also vacuum-cleaner N‑COUNT A vacuum cleaner or a vacuum is an electric machine which sucks up dust and dirt from carpets.

va cuum flask (vacuum flasks ) N‑COUNT A vacuum flask is a container which is used to keep hot drinks hot or cold drinks cold. It has two thin silvery glass walls with a vacuum between them. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use Thermos , vacuum bottle

va cuum-pa cked ADJ Food that is vacuum-packed is packed in a bag from which most of the air has been removed, in order to keep the food fresh.

vaga|bond /væ gəbɒnd/ (vagabonds ) N‑COUNT A vagabond is someone who wanders from place to place and has no home or job. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

va|gary /ve I gəri/ (vagaries ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Vagaries are unexpected and unpredictable changes in a situation or in someone's behaviour which you have no control over. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the perplexing vagaries of politics.

va|gi|na /vədʒa I nə/ (vaginas ) N‑COUNT A woman's vagina is the passage connecting her outer sex organs to her womb.

vagi|nal /vədʒa I n ^ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Vaginal means relating to or involving the vagina. □  The creams have been used to reduce vaginal infections.

va|gran|cy /ve I grənsi/ N‑UNCOUNT Vagrancy is a way of life in which someone moves a lot from place to place because they have no permanent home or job, and have to ask for or steal things in order to live. □  Vagrancy and begging has become common-place in London.

va|grant /ve I grənt/ (vagrants ) N‑COUNT A vagrant is someone who moves a lot from place to place because they have no permanent home or job, and have to ask for or steal things in order to live. □  He lived on the street as a vagrant.

vague /ve I g/ (vaguer , vaguest )