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vault |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Vault \Vault\ (v[add]lt; see Note, below), n. [OE. voute, OF voute, volte, F. vo[^u]te, LL volta, for voluta, volutio, fr L. volvere volutum to roll, to turn about See {Voluble}, and cf {Vault} a leap, {Volt} a turn, {Volute}.] 1. (Arch.) An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy. The long-drawn aisle and fretted vault. --Gray. 2. An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room use for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like a cell; a cellar. ``Charnel vaults.'' --Milton. The silent vaults of death. --Sandys. To banish rats that haunt our vault. --Swift. 3. The canopy of heaven; the sky. That heaven's vault should crack. --Shak. 4. [F. volte, It volta, originally, a turn, and the same word as volta an arch. See the Etymology above.] A leap or bound. Specifically: a (Man.) The bound or leap of a horse; a curvet. b A leap by aid of the hands, or of a pole, springboard, or the like Note: The l in this word was formerly often suppressed in pronunciation. {Barrel}, {Cradle}, {Cylindrical}, or {Wagon}, {vault} (Arch.), a kind of vault having two parallel abutments, and the same section or profile at all points. It may be rampant, as over a staircase (see {Rampant vault}, under {Rampant}), or curved in plan as around the apse of a church. {Coved vault}. (Arch.) See under 1st {Cove}, v. t. {Groined vault} (Arch.), a vault having groins, that is one in which different cylindrical surfaces intersect one another, as distinguished from a barrel, or wagon, vault. {Rampant vault}. (Arch.) See under {Rampant}. {Ribbed vault} (Arch.), a vault differing from others in having solid ribs which bear the weight of the vaulted surface. True Gothic vaults are of this character. {Vault light}, a partly glazed plate inserted in a pavement or ceiling to admit light to a vault below. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Vault \Vault\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Vaulted}; p. pr & vb n. {Vaulting}.] [OE. vouten OF volter, vouter, F. vo[^u]ter. See {Vault} an arch.] 1. To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to to arch; as vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court. The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley. --Sir W. Scott. 2. [See {Vault}, v. i.] To leap over esp., to leap over by aid of the hands or a pole; as to vault a fence. I will vault credit, and affect high pleasures. --Webster (1623). From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Vault \Vault\, v. i. [Cf. OF volter, F. voltiger, It volt?re turn. See {Vault}, n., 4.] 1. To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring. Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself --Shak. Leaning on his lance, he vaulted on a tree. --Dryden. Lucan vaulted upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth. --Addison. 2. To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: vault n 1: a burial chamber (usually underground) [syn: {burial vault}] 2: a compartment or room (often made of steel) for safekeeping of valuables [syn: {bank vault}] 3: an arched brick or stone ceiling or roof 4: the act of vaulting [syn: {hurdle}] v 1: jump across or leap over (an obstacle) [syn: {overleap}] 2: bound vigorously
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