Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

ve st|ed i n|ter|est (vested interests ) N‑VAR If you have a vested interest in something, you have a very strong reason for acting in a particular way, for example to protect your money, power, or reputation. □ [+ in ] The administration has no vested interest in proving whether public schools were good or bad.

ves|ti|bule /ve st I bjuːl/ (vestibules ) N‑COUNT A vestibule is an enclosed area between the outside door of a building and the inside door. [FORMAL ]

ves|tige /ve st I dʒ/ (vestiges ) N‑COUNT A vestige of something is a very small part that still remains of something that was once much larger or more important. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] We represent the last vestige of what made this nation great–hard work.

ves|tig|ial /vest I dʒiəl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Vestigial is used to describe the small amounts of something that still remain of a larger or more important thing. [FORMAL ] □  Vestigial remains of these plays are now seen in the Christmas pantomime.

vest|ments /ve stmənts/ N‑PLURAL Vestments are the special clothes worn by priests during church ceremonies.

ves|try /ve stri/ (vestries ) N‑COUNT A vestry is a room in a church which the clergy use as an office or to change into their ceremonial clothes for church services.

vet /ve t/ (vets , vetting , vetted )

1 N‑COUNT A vet is someone who is qualified to treat sick or injured animals. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use veterinarian 2 N‑COUNT A vet is someone who has served in the armed forces of their country, especially during a war. [AM , INFORMAL ] □  All three are Vietnam vets.

3 VERB If something is vetted , it is checked carefully to make sure that it is acceptable to people in authority. [mainly BRIT ] □ [be V -ed] He can find no trace of a rule requiring research to be vetted before publication. □ [V n] He had not been allowed to read any book until his mother had vetted it.

4 VERB [usu passive] If someone is vetted , they are investigated fully before being given a particular job, role, or position, especially one which involves military or political secrets. [BRIT ] □ [be V -ed] She was secretly vetted before she ever undertook any work for me. ●  vet|ting N‑UNCOUNT □  The government is to make major changes to the procedure for carrying out security vetting.

vetch /ve tʃ/ (vetches ) N‑VAR Vetch is a wild plant. Some types of vetch are sometimes grown as a crop.

vet|er|an ◆◇◇ /ve tərən/ (veterans )

1 N‑COUNT A veteran is someone who has served in the armed forces of their country, especially during a war. □ [+ of ] The charity was formed in 1919 to care for veterans of the First World War.

2 N‑COUNT [usu N n] You use veteran to refer to someone who has been involved in a particular activity for a long time. □  …the veteran Labour MP and former Cabinet minister. COLLOCATIONS veteran NOUN

1

noun + veteran : army, combat, navy, war

adjective + veteran : wounded; retired

2

noun + veteran : industry; comedy, screen, showbiz, theatre

adjective + veteran : grizzled, seasoned

Ve t|er|ans Day N‑UNCOUNT In the United States, Veterans Day is November 11, when people honour those who have served or are serving in the armed forces.

vet|eri|nar|ian /ve tər I neə riən/ (veterinarians ) N‑COUNT A veterinarian is a person who is qualified to treat sick or injured animals. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use vet

vet|eri|nary /ve tərənəri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Veterinary is used to describe the work of a person whose job is to treat sick or injured animals, or to describe the medical treatment of animals. □  It was decided that our veterinary screening of horses at events should be continued.