vest

American  

[vest] / vɛst /

noun

1. a close-fitting, waist-length, sleeveless garment that buttons down the front, designed to be worn under a jacket.

2. a part or trimming simulating the front of such a garment; vestee.

3. a waist-length garment worn for protective purposes.

   a bulletproof vest.

4. a sleeveless, waist- or hip-length garment made of various materials, with a front opening usually secured by buttons, a zipper, or the like, worn over a shirt, blouse, dress, or other article for style or warmth.

   a sweater vest; a down vest.

5. British.  an undervest or undershirt.

6. a long garment resembling a cassock, worn by men in the time of Charles II.

7. Archaic.

   1. dress; apparel.

   2. an outer garment, robe, or gown.

   3. an ecclesiastical vestment.

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verb (used with object)

1. to clothe; dress; robe.

2. to dress in ecclesiastical vestments.

   to vest a bishop.

3. to cover or drape (an altar).

4. to place or settle (something, especially property, rights, powers, etc.) in the possession or control of someone (usually followed byin ).

   to vest authority in a new official.

5. to invest or endow (a person, group, committee, etc.) with something, as powers, functions, or rights.

   to vest the board with power to increase production; to vest an employee with full benefits in the pension plan.

verb (used without object)

1. to put on vestments.

2. to become vested in a person, as a right.

3. to devolve upon a person as possessor; pass into possession or ownership.

idioms

1. play it close to the vest,  to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

vest British  

/ vɛst /

noun

1. US and Canadian equivalent: T-shirt.   undershirt.  Austral equivalent: singlet.  an undergarment covering the body from the shoulders to the hips, made of cotton, nylon, etc

2. Austral equivalent: singlet.  a similar sleeveless garment worn as outerwear

3. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): waistcoat.  a man's sleeveless waistlength garment worn under a suit jacket, usually buttoning up the front

4. obsolete  any form of dress, esp a long robe

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verb

1. to place or settle (power, rights, etc, in)

   power was vested in the committee

2. to bestow or confer (on)

   the company was vested with authority

3. (usually foll by in) to confer (a right, title, property, etc, upon) or (of a right, title, etc) to pass (to) or devolve (upon)

4. (tr) to clothe or array

5. (intr) to put on clothes, ecclesiastical vestments, etc

Usage

What is a basic definition of vest? A vest is an article of clothing worn on the upper body, with no sleeves and with buttons down the front. The word vest is also used generally to refer to any similar garment. As a verb, vest means to put something in the possession of another person. Vest has several other senses as a noun and a verb.In the United States, the word vest refers to a sleeveless garment usually worn over a shirt and sometimes under a jacket. A vest is generally not supposed to be worn by itself.

• Real-life examples: The Disney cartoon character Goofy usually wears a black or brown vest over an orange shirt. If you wear a tuxedo, you will often wear a vest with it.
• Used in a sentence: A man’s three-piece suit includes a suit coat, vest, and trousers.

The word vest is also used to refer to other garments that lack sleeves and end at the waist.

• Real-life examples: Police officers wear bulletproof vests for protection. Airplanes, boats, and public pools keep life vests available to keep people from drowning. Hunters wear hunting vests with many pockets to store supplies.
• Used in a sentence: The professor could always be seen smoking a pipe and wearing a sweater vest.

As a verb, vest means to give power, rights, or responsibility to another person. This sense of vest is usually written as “vest in.”

• Real-life example: Most Americans are likely familiar with this sense of vest if they have attended a wedding: A religious figure will alert the attendees that a state has vested in them the power and authority to join people in a legally recognized marriage.
• Used in a sentence: Executive power is vested in the President through the Constitution.

Other Word Forms

• vestless adjective
• vestlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of vest

1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English < Italian veste robe, dress < Latin vestis garment; (v.) late Middle English < Middle French vestir < Latin vestīre to clothe, derivative of vestis; akin to wear

Example Sentences

They use hard hats and vests to disguise themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among the new nonnegotiables: fleece vests instead of jackets and elastic waistbands instead of “hard pants,” i.e., anything with a zipper.

From The Wall Street Journal

Others stick to his signature pastel-powered color palette, sport loud patterned sweater vests or even wear a button-up with a tie and baseball cap — as an ode to his most frequent silhouette.

From Los Angeles Times

The missing man was wearing a white turban, black shorts, black shirt and a black vest.

From Los Angeles Times

Carry that has vested can be unvested if someone goes to a competitor.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bestow
• confer
• empower
• endow