Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

versed /vɜː ^r st/ ADJ [adv ADJ ] If you are versed in or well versed in something, you know a lot about it. □ [+ in ] Page is well versed in many styles of jazz.

ver|sion ◆◆◇ /vɜː ^r ʃ ^ə n, -ʒ ^ə n/ (versions )

1 N‑COUNT A version of something is a particular form of it in which some details are different from earlier or later forms. □ [+ of ] …an updated version of his book. □ [+ of ] Ludo is a version of an ancient Indian racing game.

2 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's version of an event is their own description of it, especially when it is different to other people's. □ [+ of ] Yesterday afternoon the White House put out a new version of events.

ver|sus /vɜː ^r səs/

1 PREP You use versus to indicate that two figures, ideas, or choices are opposed. □  Only 18.8% of the class of 1982 had some kind of diploma four years after high school, versus 45% of the class of 1972. □  …bottle-feeding versus breastfeeding.

2 PREP Versus is used to indicate that two teams or people are competing against each other in a sporting event. □  Italy versus Japan is turning out to be a surprisingly well-matched competition.

ver|te|bra /vɜː ^r t I brə/ (vertebrae /vɜː ^r t I bre I /) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Vertebrae are the small circular bones that form the spine of a human being or animal.

ver|te|brate /vɜː ^r t I br I t/ (vertebrates ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A vertebrate is a creature which has a spine. Mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish are vertebrates.

ver|ti|cal /vɜː ^r t I k ^ə l/

1 ADJ Something that is vertical stands or points straight up. □  The gadget can be attached to any vertical or near vertical surface. ●  ver|ti|cal|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  Cut each bulb in half vertically.

2 N‑SING The vertical is the direction that points straight up, at an angle of 90 degrees to a flat surface. □  Pluto seems to have suffered a major collision that tipped it 122 degrees from the vertical.

ver|tigi|nous /vɜː ^r t I dʒ I nəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A vertiginous cliff or mountain is very high and steep. [LITERARY ]

ver|ti|go /vɜː ^r t I goʊ/ N‑UNCOUNT If you get vertigo when you look down from a high place, you feel unsteady and sick.

verve /vɜː ^r v/ N‑UNCOUNT Verve is lively and forceful enthusiasm. [WRITTEN ] □  He looked for the dramatic, like the sunset in this painting, and painted it with great verve.

very ◆◆◆ /ve ri/

1 ADV [ADV adj/adv] Very is used to give emphasis to an adjective or adverb. [EMPHASIS ] □  The problem and the answer are very simple. □  It is very, very strong evidence indeed. □  I'm very sorry. □  They are getting the hang of it very quickly. □  Thank you very much. □  The men were very much like my father.

2 PHRASE Not very is used with an adjective or adverb to say that something is not at all true, or that it is true only to a small degree. □  She's not very impressed with them. □  It's obviously not used very much. □  'How well do you know her?'—'Not very.'

3 ADV You use very to give emphasis to a superlative adjective or adverb. For example, if you say that something is the very best , you are emphasizing that it is the best. [EMPHASIS ] □  They will be helped by the very latest in navigation aids. □  At the very least, the Government must offer some protection to mothers who fear domestic violence.