Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 N‑COUNT The verge of a road is a narrow piece of ground by the side of a road, which is usually covered with grass or flowers. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use shoulder

▸  verge on PHRASAL VERB If someone or something verges on a particular state or quality, they are almost the same as that state or quality. □ [V P n] …a fury that verged on madness.

veri|fi|able /ve r I fa I əb ^ə l/ ADJ Something that is verifiable can be proved to be true or genuine. □  This is not a romantic notion, but verifiable fact.

veri|fy /ve r I fa I / (verifies , verifying , verified )

1 VERB If you verify something, you check that it is true by careful examination or investigation. □ [V n] I verified the source from which I had that information. □ [V that] A clerk simply verifies that the payment and invoice amount match. ●  veri|fi|ca|tion /ve r I f I ke I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] All charges against her are dropped pending the verification of her story.

2 VERB [no cont] If you verify something, you state or confirm that it is true. □ [V n] The government has not verified any of those reports. □ [V that] I can verify that it takes about thirty seconds.

veri|ly /ve r I li/ ADV Verily is an old-fashioned or religious word meaning 'truly'. It is used to emphasize a statement or opinion. [EMPHASIS ] □  Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

veri|si|mili|tude /ve r I s I m I l I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ N‑UNCOUNT Verisimilitude is the quality of seeming to be true or real. [FORMAL ] □  At the required level of visual verisimilitude, computer animation is costly.

veri|table /ve r I təb ^ə l/ ADJ You can use veritable to emphasize the size, amount, or nature of something. [EMPHASIS ] □  …a veritable feast of pre-match entertainment.

ver|ity /ve r I ti/ (verities ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The verities of something are all the things that are believed to be true about it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …some verities of human nature.

ver|mil|ion /və ^r m I liən/ COLOUR Vermilion is used to describe things that are bright red in colour. [LITERARY ] □  …her vermilion lip gloss. □  The furniture on it is glossy vermilion.

ver|min /vɜː ^r m I n/ N‑PLURAL Vermin are small animals such as rats and mice which cause problems to humans by carrying disease and damaging crops or food.

ver|mouth /vɜː ^r məθ/ (vermouths ) N‑VAR Vermouth is a strong alcoholic drink made from red or white wine flavoured with herbs.

ver|nacu|lar /və ^r næ kjʊlə ^r / (vernaculars ) N‑COUNT The vernacular is the language or dialect that is most widely spoken by ordinary people in a region or country. □  …books or plays written in the vernacular.

ver|ru|ca /vəruː kə/ (verrucas ) N‑COUNT A verruca is a small infectious lump which grows on the bottom of your foot. [BRIT ]

ver|sa|tile /vɜː ^r səta I l, [AM ] -t ^ə l/

1 ADJ If you say that a person is versatile , you approve of them because they have many different skills. [APPROVAL ] □  He had been one of the game's most versatile athletes. ●  ver|sa|til|ity /vɜː ^r sət I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □  Aileen stands out for her incredible versatility as an actress.

2 ADJ A tool, machine, or material that is versatile can be used for many different purposes. □  Never before has computing been so versatile. ●  ver|sa|til|ity N‑UNCOUNT □  Velvet is not known for its versatility.

verse /vɜː ^r s/ (verses )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Verse is writing arranged in lines which have rhythm and which often rhyme at the end. □  I have been moved to write a few lines of verse.

2 → see also blank verse

3 N‑COUNT A verse is one of the parts into which a poem, a song, or a chapter of the Bible or the Koran is divided. □  This verse describes three signs of spring.