vest
vest
Definition
vest (vest)
noun
- a short, tightfitting, sleeveless garment worn, esp. under a suit coat, by men
- a similar garment worn by women
- an insert or trimming worn under the bodice by women, simulating the front of a man's vest
- a calf-length, cassocklike garment worn by men in the time of Charles II
- Rare any long robe
- a girl's undershirt
- 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
- to put on garments or vestments; clothe oneself
- to pass to a person; become vested (in a person), as property
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
- to be reserved, secretive, etc.; keep (one's plans, thoughts, etc.) to oneself
- to take no risks; be cautious, conservative, etc.
vest
Synonyms
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
- trustee: There is a surplus vested in the trustees of upwards of 500 pounds.
Browse dictionary entries near vest
- vessel
- Vespucci
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- Vesta
- vestal
- vestal virgin
- vested
- vested interest
- vestee
- vestiary
- vestibule
- vestige
