GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Vault , n. [OE. voute, OF. voute, volte, F. voûte, 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.]
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   (Arch.) An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.
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   The long-drawn aisle and fretted vault.
   Gray.
   
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   An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, used for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like; a cell; a cellar. “Charnel vaults.”  
   Milton.
   
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   The silent vaults of death.
   Sandys.
   
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   To banish rats that haunt our vault.
   Swift.
   
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   The canopy of heaven; the sky.
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   That heaven's vault should crack.
   Shak.
   
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   [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.
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   ☞ The l in this word was formerly often suppressed in pronunciation.
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   Barrel vault, Cradle vault, Cylindrical vault, 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.
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2.       
   Vault , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaulting.] [OE. vouten, OF. volter, vouter, F. voûter. See Vault an arch.]
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   To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch; as, to vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court.
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   The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley.
   Sir W. Scott.
   
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   [See Vault, v. i.] To leap over; esp., to leap over by aid of the hands or a pole; as, to vault a fence.
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   I will vault credit, and affect high pleasures.
   Webster (1623).
   
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3.       
   Vault, v. i. [Cf. OF. volter, F. voltiger, It. voltare to turn. See Vault, n., 4.]
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   To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.
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   Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself.
   Shak.
   
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   Leaning on his lance, he vaulted on a tree.
   Dryden.
   
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   Lucan vaulted upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth.
   Addison.
   
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   To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble.
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