Vault

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /vÉ’lt/, /vɔːlt/
• US IPA: /vÉ‘lt/, /vÉ”lt/
• Rhymes: -ɔːlt, Rhymes: -É’lt
• Homophones: volt in some accents
• The l was originally suppressed in pronunciation.

From Old French volte (modern voûte), from Vulgar Latin *volta < *volvita or *volŭta, a regularization of volūta (compare modern volute ("spire")), the past participle of volvere ("roll, turn").

Full definition of vault

Noun

1. An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.
• Graythe long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
2. A structure resembling a vault, especially poetic that formed by the sky.
• Shakespearethat heaven's vault should crack
• 1985, God said, ‘Let there be a vault through the middle of the waters to divide the waters in two.’ — Genesis 1:6 New Jerusalem Bible
3. A secure, enclosed area, especially an underground room used for burial, or to store valuables, wine etc.The bank kept their money safe in a large vault.Family members had been buried in the vault for centuries.
• Sandysthe silent vaults of death
• Jonathan Swiftto banish rats that haunt our vault

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To build as, or cover with a vault.
• Sir Walter ScottThe shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley.

From Middle French volter ("to turn or spin around; to frolic"), borrowed from Italian voltare, itself from a Vulgar Latin frequentative form of Latin volvere; later assimilated to Etymology 1, above.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To jump or leap over.The fugitive vaulted over the fence to escape.

Derived terms

• vaulter
• vaulting

Noun

1. An act of vaulting; a leap or jump.
2. (gymnastics) An event in gymanstics performed on a vaulting horse.