vvvv

Definition(s) of “V”

versus |ˈvərsəs; -səz| (abbr.: v. or vs.)

preposition

against (esp. in sports and legal use) : Penn versus Princeton.

as opposed to; in contrast to : weighing the pros and cons of organic versus inorganic produce.

ORIGIN late Middle English : from a medieval Latin use of Latin versus ‘toward.’

V 1 |vē| (also v)

noun ( pl. Vs or V's)

1 the twenty-second letter of the alphabet.

denoting the next after U in a set of items, categories, etc.

2 (also vee) a shape like that of a letter V : [in combination ] deep, V-shaped valleys.

[as adj. ] denoting an internal combustion engine with a number of cylinders arranged in two rows at an angle to each other in a V-shape : a V-engine | a 32-valve V8 power plant.

3 the Roman numeral for five.

V 2

abbreviation

volt(s).

symbol

the chemical element vanadium.

voltage or potential difference : V = IR.

(in mathematical formulae) volume : pV = nRT.

vanadium |vəˈnādēəm|

noun

the chemical element of atomic number 23, a hard gray metal of the transition series, used to make alloy steels. (Symbol: V)

ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Old Norse Vanadis (a name of the Scandinavian goddess Freyja).

volt 1 |vōlt| (abbr.: V)

noun

the SI unit of electromotive force, the difference of potential that would drive one ampere of current against one ohm resistance.

ORIGIN late 19th cent.: named after A. Volta (see Volta 2 ).

volt 2 |vōlt; vôlt; vält| (also volte)

noun Fencing

a sudden quick jump or other movement to escape a thrust.

verb [ intrans. ] Fencing

make a quick movement to avoid a thrust.

ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from French volter (see volte ).