Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 N‑COUNT A verb is a word such as 'sing', 'feel', or 'die' which is used with a subject to say what someone or something does or what happens to them, or to give information about them.

2 → see also phrasal verb

ver|bal /vɜː ^r b ^ə l/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use verbal to indicate that something is expressed in speech rather than in writing or action. □  They were jostled and subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse. □  We have a verbal agreement with her. ●  ver|bal|ly ADV □  Teachers were threatened with kitchen knives, physically assaulted and verbally abused.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use verbal to indicate that something is connected with words and the use of words. □  The test has scores for verbal skills, mathematical skills, and abstract reasoning skills.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] In grammar, verbal means relating to a verb. □  …a verbal noun.

ver|bal|ize /vɜː ^r bəla I z/ (verbalizes , verbalizing , verbalized ) in BRIT, also use verbalise VERB If you verbalize your feelings, thoughts, or ideas, you express them in words. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …his inability to verbalize his feelings. [Also V ]

ver|ba|tim /və ^r be I t I m/ ADV [ADV after v] If you repeat something verbatim , you use exactly the same words as were used originally. □  The President's speeches are regularly reproduced verbatim in the state-run newspapers. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Verbatim is also an adjective. □  She gave me a verbatim report of every conversation she's had this week.

ve rb group (verb groups ) N‑COUNT A verb group or verbal group consists of a verb, or of a main verb following a modal or one or more auxiliaries. Examples are 'walked', 'can see', and 'had been waiting'.

ver|bi|age /vɜː ^r bi I dʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to someone's speech or writing as verbiage , you are critical of them because they use too many words, which makes their speech or writing difficult to understand. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  Many mission statements are nothing but empty verbiage.

ver|bose /vɜː ^r boʊ s/ ADJ If you describe a person or a piece of writing as verbose , you are critical of them because they use more words than are necessary, and so make you feel bored or annoyed. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  …verbose politicians. □  His writing is difficult and often verbose.

ver|dant /vɜː ^r d ^ə nt/ ADJ If you describe a place as verdant , you mean that it is covered with green grass, trees, and plants. [LITERARY ] □  …a small verdant garden with a view out over Paris.

ver|dict ◆◇◇ /vɜː ^r d I kt/ (verdicts )

1 N‑COUNT In a court of law, the verdict is the decision that is given by the jury or judge at the end of a trial. □  The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict. □  Three judges will deliver their verdict in October.

2 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] Someone's verdict on something is their opinion of it, after thinking about it or investigating it. □  The doctor's verdict was that he was entirely healthy. [Also + on ] SYNONYMS verdict NOUN 1

decision:A decision was taken to discipline Marshall.

finding:The government hopes the court will announce its findings before the end of the month.

judgment:The industry was awaiting a judgment from the European Court.

ver|di|gris /vɜː ^r d I gr I s, -griːs/ N‑UNCOUNT Verdigris is a greenish-blue substance that forms on the metals copper, brass, and bronze after they have been left in wet or damp conditions.

verge /vɜː ^r dʒ/ (verges , verging , verged )

1 PHRASE If you are on the verge of something, you are going to do it very soon or it is likely to happen or begin very soon. □  The country was on the verge of becoming prosperous and successful. □  Carole was on the verge of tears.