Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural vests, present participle vesting, past tense, past participle vested
1. countable noun
A vest is a piece of underwear which you can wear on the top half of your body in order to keep warm.
[British]regional note: in AM, use undershirt
2. countable noun
A vest is a sleeveless piece of clothing with buttons which people usually wear over a shirt.
[US]regional note: in BRIT, use waistcoat
3. verb [usually passive]
If something is vestedin you, or if you are vestedwith it, it is given to you as a right or responsibility.
[formal]
All authority was vested in the woman, who discharged every kind of public duty. [beVERB-ed + in]
The mass media have been vested with significant power in modern societies. [beVERB-ed + with]
There's an extraordinary amount of power vested in us. [VERB-ed]
vest in British English
(vɛst)
noun
1.
an undergarment covering the body from the shoulders to the hips, made of cotton, nylon, etc
US and Canadian equivalent: T-shirt, undershirt. Austral equivalent: singlet
2.
a similar sleeveless garment worn as outerwear
Austral equivalent: singlet
3. US, Canadian and Australian
a man's sleeveless waistlength garment worn under a suit jacket, usually buttoning up the front
Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): waistcoat
4. obsolete
any form of dress, esp a long robe
verb
5. (transitive; foll byin)
to place or settle (power, rights, etc, in)
power was vested in the committee
6. (transitive; foll bywith)
to bestow or confer (on)
the company was vested with authority
7. (usually foll by in)
to confer (a right, title, property, etc, upon) or (of a right, title, etc) to pass (to) or devolve (upon)
8. (transitive)
to clothe or array
9. (intransitive)
to put on clothes, ecclesiastical vestments, etc
Derived forms
vestless (ˈvestless)
adjective
vestlike (ˈvestˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Old French vestir to clothe, from Latin vestīre, from vestis clothing
vest in American English
(vɛst)
noun
1.
a.
a short, tightfitting, sleeveless garment worn, esp. under a suit coat, by men
b.
a similar garment worn by women
c.
an insert or trimming worn under the bodice by women, simulating the front of a man's vest
2.
a.
a calf-length, cassocklike garment worn by men in the time of Charles II
b. Rare
any long robe
3.
a.
a girl's undershirt
b. Chiefly British
any undershirt
4. Obsolete
vesture; clothing
verb transitive
5.
to dress, as in church vestments; clothe
6.
to place (authority, power, property rights, etc.) in the control of a person or group (with in)
7.
to put (a person) in possession or control of, as power or authority; invest (with something)
verb intransitive
8.
to put on garments or vestments; clothe oneself
9.
to pass to a person; become vested (in a person), as property
Idioms:
play (it) close to the vest
Word origin
Fr veste < It < L vestis, garment < IE base *wes-, to clothe > OE werian, to wear1
More idioms containing
vest
play your cards close to the vest
Examples of 'vest' in a sentence
vest
She burst into tears as she felt the bulletproof vest under my shirt.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They were armed and one was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Take off that sweaty vest and put it in your handbag.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Imagine they are both wearing red vests.
Trickett, Shirley Coming Off Tranquillizers and Sleeping Pills (1991)
He was found dead in the school wearing a bulletproof vest.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You can put on a vest and shorts and box and do the heptathlon or put on mascara to walk the dog.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's designed to look good peeking beneath strappy dresses and vests.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Layer a long, sheer top over a vest.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Power is vested in him through the votes of far-flung football federations.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is a legal requirement to use front and rear lights while cycling at night and a reflective vest or jacket is also advisable.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The sauce went all over his vest and jacket and he decided to deal with it in his own, unique way.
The Sun (2010)
He was wearing a white shirt, vest and backpack, with a gun over his shoulder.
The Sun (2014)
Perhaps it's the braces that complete the whiskers look... along with his grandad shirt and vest.
The Sun (2008)
It is made almost like a man 's vest, with her shirt showing all the way round between it and her skirt.
Veronica Buckley CHRISTINA QUEEN OF SWEDEN: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric (2004)
Word lists with
vest
America
In other languages
vest
British English: vest /vɛst/ NOUN
A vest is a piece of underwear which is worn to keep the top part of your body warm.
American English: undershirt
Arabic: قَمِيصٌ تـَحْتِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: camiseta
Chinese: 背心
Croatian: potkošulja
Czech: tílko
Danish: vest
Dutch: vest
European Spanish: camiseta de tirantes
Finnish: aluspaita
French: débardeur
German: Unterhemd
Greek: γιλέκο
Italian: canottiera
Japanese: 肌着
Korean: (남자용) 속 셔츠
Norwegian: vest
Polish: kamizelka
European Portuguese: colete
Romanian: maiou
Russian: жилет
Latin American Spanish: chaleco
Swedish: undertröja
Thai: เสื้อกั๊ก
Turkish: atlet
Ukrainian: майка
Vietnamese: áo lót
All related terms of 'vest'
life vest
an inflatable sleeveless jacket worn to keep a person afloat when in danger of drowning
vest top
a sleeveless top; a top with thin shoulder straps
vest pocket
the pocket of a waistcoat
suicide vest
A suicide vest is a jacket with explosives attached to it, worn by a terrorist in order to carry out a bomb attack, knowing that he or she will be killed in the explosion .
sweater vest
a sleeveless pullover
bulletproof vest
a protective garment
rash shirt
a shirt worn by surfers as protection against sunburn , heat rash , etc
play (it) close to the vest
to be reserved , secretive , etc.; keep (one's plans, thoughts, etc.) to oneself