Vice

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /vaɪs/
• Rhymes: -aɪs
• Homophones: vise

From Anglo-Norman, from Old French, from Latin vitium ("fault or blemish").

Full definition of vice

Noun

1. A bad habit.Smoking is a vice, not a virtue.
2. (legal) Any of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, or drugs.
3. A defect in the temper or behaviour of a horse, such as to make the animal dangerous, to injure its health, or to diminish its usefulness.
• From the case of Scholefield v. Robb (1839).

Antonyms

• (bad habit) virtue

Derived terms

• vice squad

Related terms

• vicious
• vitiate

From French vis ("screw, winding stairs"), from Old French vis, viz, from Latin vitis ("vine"); akin to English withy.

Alternative forms

• vise (US)

Noun

1. A mechanical screw apparatus used for clamping or holding (also spelled vise).
2. A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements.
3. (obsolete) A grip or grasp.
• 1597, William Shakespeare, , II. I. 22:Fang. An I but fist him once; an a’ come but within my vice,–

Verb

1. To hold or squeeze with a vice, or as if with a vice.
• 1610, William Shakespeare, , I. ii. 416:Camillo. As he had seen’t, or been an instrument
  To vice you to't, that you have touched his queen
  Forbiddenly
• De QuinceyThe coachman's hand was viced between his upper and lower thigh.

From Latin vice ("in place of"), ablative form of vicis.

Adjective

1. in place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rankvice presidentvice admiral

Derived terms

• vice admiral
• vice governor
• vice mayor
• vice president

Preposition

preposition

1. instead of, in place ofA. B. was appointed postmaster vice C. D. resigned.