Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense vaults, present participle vaulting, past tense, past participle vaulted
1. countable noun
A vault is a secure room where money and other valuable things can be kept safely.
Most of the money was in storage in bank vaults.
The gold recovered so far is being held in a vault at a secret location.
Synonyms: strongroom, repository, depository More Synonyms of vault
2. countable noun
A vault is a room underneath a church or in a cemetery where people are buried, usually the members of a single family.
He ordered that Matilda's body should be buried in the family vault.
Synonyms: crypt, tomb, catacomb, cellar More Synonyms of vault
3. countable noun
A vault is an arched roof or ceiling.
...the vault of a great cathedral. [+ of]
Synonyms: arch, roof, ceiling, span More Synonyms of vault
4. verb
If you vault something or vaultover it, you jump quickly onto or over it, especially by putting a hand on top of it to help you balance while you jump.
He could easily vault the wall. [VERB noun]
Ned vaulted over a fallen tree. [VERB preposition]
He ran to the door and vaulted into the saddle. [VERB preposition]
More Synonyms of vault
vault in British English1
(vɔːlt)
noun
1.
an arched structure that forms a roof or ceiling
2.
a room, esp a cellar, having an arched roof down to floor level
3.
a burial chamber, esp when underground
4.
a strongroom for the safe-deposit and storage of valuables
5.
an underground room or part of such a room, used for the storage of wine, food, etc
6. anatomy
any arched or domed bodily cavity or space
the cranial vault
7.
something suggestive of an arched structure, as the sky
verb
8. (transitive)
to furnish with or as if with an arched roof
9. (transitive)
to construct in the shape of a vault
10. (intransitive)
to curve, arch, or bend in the shape of a vault
Derived forms
vaultlike (ˈvaultˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C14: vaute, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin volvita (unattested) a turn, probably from Latin volvere to roll
vault in British English2
(vɔːlt)
verb
1.
to spring over (an object), esp with the aid of a long pole or with the hands resting on the object
2. (intransitive)
to do, achieve, or attain something as if by a leap
he vaulted to fame on the strength of his discovery
3. dressage
to perform or cause to perform a curvet
noun
4.
the act of vaulting
5. dressage
a low leap; curvet
Derived forms
vaulter (ˈvaulter)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Old French voulter to turn, from Italian voltare to turn, from Vulgar Latin volvitāre (unattested) to turn, leap; see vault1
vault in American English1
(vɔlt)
noun
1.
an arched roof, ceiling, or covering of masonry
2.
an arched chamber or space, esp. when underground
3.
a cellar room used for storage, as of wine
4.
a.
a burial chamber
b.
a concrete or metal enclosure in the ground, into which the casket is lowered at burial
5. US
a secure room, often with individual safe-deposit boxes, for the safekeeping of valuables or money, as in a bank
6.
an underground cave with a naturally arched roof
7.
the sky as a vaultlike canopy
8. Anatomy
any arched cavity or structure
the cranial vault
verb transitive
9.
to make a vault over; cover with a vault
10.
to build in the form of a vault
verb intransitive
11.
to curve like a vault
Word origin
ME voute < OFr < VL *volvita, an arch, vault < *volvitus, pp. of *volvitare, intens. of L volvere, to turn around, roll: see walk
vault in American English2
(vɔlt)
verb intransitive
1.
to jump, leap, or spring, as over a barrier or from one position to another, esp. with the help of the hands supported on thebarrier, etc., or with the aid of a long pole
verb transitive
2.
to vault over
to vault a fence
noun
3.
an act of vaulting
4.
a leap or bound made by a horse
5. Gymnastics
an event in which a gymnast vaults over a horse (sense 9) with the help of a springboard
Derived forms
vaulter (ˈvaulter)
noun
Word origin
MFr volter < OIt voltare < VL *volvitare: see vault1
Examples of 'vault' in a sentence
vault
Fear hair burglars stealing it in the night and put it in a bank vault for safe keeping?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Tuesday We have been banished to a storage vault for embarrassing political apparel.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Think vaulted ceilings, antique furniture and lashings of rustic charm.
The Sun (2016)
Slightly worn carpets, a fireplace and red sofas sit beneath vaulted ceilings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She plays rugby and does parkour, a sport in which participants vault and jump from walls and buildings.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One of its two reception rooms has a vaulted ceiling and a fireplace.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The cellars have impressively broad arched vaults.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The cathedral has the longest uninterrupted vaulted ceiling in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
How high is a good pole vault?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The extreme sport involves vaulting between roofs and off lampposts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Twenty steps down and the iron door worthy of a bank vault was slowly opened.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Below and to the east is a sea cave with a vaulted roof and a sandy floor.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The vaulted stone ceilings are stunning.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Underground vaults have sheltered 123 mummified monks for centuries and frescoes are preserved on cave walls.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The vault of a cathedral might often be more than 150 feet above the floor.
Christianity Today (2000)
Rather than flowers, the vaulted rooms have been filled with blossom.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It's like the pole vault but easier to practise.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They had climbed down into the underground vault in Cardiff city centre and got stuck.
The Sun (2015)
They had a storage vault and when they passed away, it became necessary to make a catalogue.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His body was taken by some local Belgians and kept in their family vault for the course of the war.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The vault door required both a combination code and key - the key was left in a storeroom just a few feet away.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The remains are less than a metre below the church floor, contrary to received wisdom that they were interred in a deep family vault.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The dining room resembled a Holiday Inn remake of a vaulted church.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Can take it or leave it if a man with a long pole can vault over a bar taller than a London double-decker bus?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Word lists with
vault
architectural features
In other languages
vault
British English: vault NOUN
A vault is a secure room where money and other valuable things can be kept safely.
Most of the money was in storage in bank vaults.
American English: vault
Brazilian Portuguese: caixa-forte
Chinese: 保险库
European Spanish: cámara acorazada
French: chambre forte
German: Tresorraum
Italian: caveau
Japanese: 金庫室
Korean: 금고실
European Portuguese: caixa-forte
Latin American Spanish: cámara acorazada
British English: vault VERB
If you vault something or vault over it, you jump quickly onto or over it, especially by putting a hand on top of it to help you balance while you jump.
He could easily vault the wall.
American English: vault
Brazilian Portuguese: saltar com auxílio das mãos
Chinese: 撑竿跳
European Spanish: saltar
French: sauter
German: überspringen
Italian: scavalcare
Japanese: 跳ぶ
Korean: 뛰어 넘다
European Portuguese: saltar com auxílio das mãos
Latin American Spanish: saltar
All related terms of 'vault'
bank vault
a strongroom in a bank for the storage of valuable items
pole vault
The pole vault is an athletics event in which athletes jump over a high bar , using a long flexible pole to help lift themselves up.
wagon vault
a vault in the form of a half cylinder
barrel vault
a vault in the form of a half cylinder
ribbed vault
a vault supported by or decorated with diagonal ribs
tunnel vault
a vault in the form of a half cylinder
the pole vault
a field event in which competitors attempt to clear a high bar with the aid of an extremely flexible long pole
underpitch vault
a vault that is intersected by one or more vaults of lower pitch
Chinese translation of 'vault'
vault
(vɔːlt)
n(c)
(= tomb) 地下墓室 (dìxià mùshì)
(in bank) 保险(險)库 (bǎoxiǎnkù)
[of roof]拱顶(頂) (gǒngdǐng)
vt
(also vault over) 跃(躍)过(過) (yuèguò)
1 (noun)
Definition
a secure room where money and other valuables are stored safely
The money was in storage in bank vaults.
Synonyms
strongroom
repository
The church became a repository for police files.
depository
They have 2,500 tons of paper stored in their depository.
2 (noun)
Definition
an underground burial chamber
He ordered that Matilda's body should be buried in the family vault.
Synonyms
crypt
people buried in the crypt of an old London church
tomb
the tomb of the Unknown Soldier
catacomb
cellar
mausoleum
Her tomb lies in the great mausoleum under a slab of jade.
charnel house
undercroft
3 (noun)
Definition
an arched structure that forms a roof or ceiling
the vault of a magnificent cathedral
Synonyms
arch
The theatre is located under old railway arches in the East End.
roof
ceiling
span
(verb)
Synonyms
arch
the domed ceiling arching overhead
bend
Bend the bar into a horseshoe.
bow
He bowed slightly before taking her bag.
curve
The track curved away below him.
span
the humped iron bridge spanning the railway
overarch
(verb)
Definition
to jump over (something) by resting one's hands on it or by using a long pole
Ned vaulted over the low wall.
Synonyms
jump
He jumped the first fence beautifully.
spring
The lion roared once and sprang.
leap
He leapt over a wall brandishing a weapon.
clear
The horse cleared the fence by several inches.
bound
He bounded up the steps and pushed the bell of the door.
hurdle
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bend
Definition
to form a curve
Bend the bar into a horseshoe.
Synonyms
twist,
turn,
wind,
lean,
hook,
bow,
curve,
arch,
incline,
arc,
deflect,
warp,
buckle,
coil,
flex,
stoop,
veer,
swerve,
diverge,
contort,
inflect,
incurvate
in the sense of bound
Definition
to bounce
He bounded up the steps and pushed the bell of the door.
Synonyms
leap,
bob,
spring,
jump,
bounce,
skip,
vault,
pounce
in the sense of bow
Definition
to lower (one's head) or bend (one's knee or body) as a sign of respect, greeting, agreement, or shame
He bowed slightly before taking her bag.
Synonyms
bend,
bob,
nod,
incline,
stoop,
droop,
genuflect,
make obeisance
Nearby words of
vault
vast
vastly
vat
vault
vaulted
vaunted
veer
Synonyms of 'vault'
vault
Explore 'vault' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clear
Definition
to move or pass by or over without contact
The horse cleared the fence by several inches.
Synonyms
pass over,
jump,
leap,
vault,
miss
in the sense of curve
Definition
to form into or move in a curve
The track curved away below him.
Synonyms
bend,
turn,
wind,
twist,
bow,
arch,
snake,
arc,
coil,
swerve
in the sense of depository
Definition
a store where furniture, valuables, etc. can be kept for safety
They have 2,500 tons of paper stored in their depository.
Synonyms
storehouse,
store,
warehouse,
depot,
repository,
safe-deposit box
in the sense of leap
Definition
to jump over
He leapt over a wall brandishing a weapon.
Synonyms
vault,
clear,
jump,
bound,
spring
in the sense of mausoleum
Definition
a large stately tomb
Her tomb lies in the great mausoleum under a slab of jade.
Synonyms
crypt,
tomb,
vault,
catacomb,
sepulchre,
charnel house,
burial chamber
in the sense of repository
Definition
a place or container in which things can be stored for safety
The church became a repository for police files.
Synonyms
store,
archive,
storehouse,
depository,
magazine,
treasury,
warehouse,
vault,
depot,
emporium (old-fashioned),
receptacle
in the sense of span
Definition
to stretch or extend across, over, or around
the humped iron bridge spanning the railway
Synonyms
extend across,
cross,
bridge,
cover,
link,
vault,
traverse,
range over,
arch across
in the sense of spring
Definition
to return or be returned into natural shape from a forced position by elasticity