vault
1 (vôlt)
[Middle English vaute, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin* volvita, volta from feminine of *volvitus, arched, alteration of Latin volūtus past participle of volvere, to roll.]
noun
- An arched structure, usually of masonry or concrete, serving to cover a space.
- An arched overhead covering, such as the sky, that resembles the architectural structure in form.
- A room or space, such as a cellar or storeroom, with arched walls and ceiling, especially when underground.
- A room or compartment, often built of steel, for the safekeeping of valuables: a bank vault.
- A burial chamber, especially when underground.
- Anatomy An arched part of the body, especially the top part of the skull.
transitive verb: vault·ed, vault·ing, vaults.
- To construct or supply with an arched ceiling; cover with a vault.
- To build or make in the shape of a vault; arch.
vault
2 (vôlt)
[Obsolete French volter, from Old French, from Old Italian voltare, from Vulgar Latin* volvitāre, frequentative of Latin volvere, to turn, roll.]
verb: vault·ed, vault·ing, vaults.
transitive verb
- To jump or leap over, especially with the aid of a support such as the hands or a pole.
intransitive verb
- To jump or leap, especially with the use of the hands or a pole.
- To accomplish something as if by leaping suddenly or vigorously: vaulted into a position of wealth.
noun
- The act of vaulting; a jump.
derivatives
- vault́er
- noun
