vest

vest Definition

vest (vest)

noun

1. a short, tightfitting, sleeveless garment worn, esp. under a suit coat, by men
2. a similar garment worn by women
3. an insert or trimming worn under the bodice by women, simulating the front of a man's vest
1. a calf-length, cassocklike garment worn by men in the time of Charles II
2. Rare any long robe
1. a girl's undershirt
2. Chiefly Brit. any undershirt
Obsolete vesture; clothing

Etymology: Fr veste < It < L vestis, garment < IE base *wes-, to clothe > OE werian, to wear

transitive verb

to dress, as in church vestments; clothe
to place (authority, power, property rights, etc.) in the control of a person or group (with in)
to put (a person) in possession or control of, as power or authority; invest (with something)

Etymology: ME vesten < OFr vestir < L vestire < the n.

intransitive verb

vest Idioms

play (it) close to the vest

☆

Etymology: in allusion to the way a card player holds a hand of cards so they cannot be seen by others

vest Synonyms

waistcoat, jacket, garment, undershirt; see clothes.

vest Usage Examples

Object

discretion: But that is not what is to be expected of the exercise of the administrative discretion vested in the Home Secretary.
assent: A will trust requires a vesting assent from the personal representatives.
sovereignty: It must win the battle for democracy by constituting itself as the nation and vesting sovereignty in the people.

Converse of object

don: Our 90-strong team donned burgundy vests and ran, jogged or walked the world famous route from Newcastle to South Shields.
wear: Your wife's job requires her to wear an orange vest.

Adjective modifier

doll-sized: There's a breezy cabana, beach-themed butterfly chair and personal watercraft with a removable doll-sized life vest.
bullet-proof: Do we imagine that missile defense can give ' special countries ' some vast bullet-proof vest?
bulletproof: The body armor of the new uniforms will absorb the shock of a bullet much better than current bulletproof vests.
removable: These stuffed Tub Toys are made from a soft, quick-drying terry fabric and come with removable life vests.
strappy: Layered jersey T-shirts and strappy vests were teamed with full or tight mini skirts in pale green, white and blue.
fluorescent: So no more snapping a flashing light onto the back of your bike or wearing fluorescent vests while you run.

Modifies a noun

sovereignty: The rich, or the workers who vest sovereignty in the people.
rub: The vest had dried up milk down the front that had hardened making the vest rub up a rash on A's tummy.

Noun used with modifier

hi-vis: In actual fact I don't think that anyone will bump into us in the hi-vis vests!
GB: Whilst for Scotland, Hailey Haining and Susan Partridge should put up a good fight with GB vests at stake.
stab: Officers wore protective clothing and stab vests as they searched the homes, but were not armed, a police spokesman said.
rash: Rash vests are used underneath a suit to prevent rubbing of the neoprene against the skin which can cause chaffing in joint areas.
visibility: Always wear a high visibility vest over your clothing.
bullet: Surely President Bush could not have been wearing a bullet proof vest under his jacket, could he?

Preposition: in

Browse dictionary entries near vest