vas
noun
a vessel or duct.
vas
1 American
[vas]
/ væs /
noun
Anatomy, Zoology, Botany.
vasa
plural
vas-
2
American
vas-
1
British
combining form
vas
2
British
/ væs /
noun
Usage
What does vas- mean? Vas- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “vessel,” typically referring to blood vessels, such as veins and arteries. It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy. In some instances, vas- specifically refers to the vas deferens, the duct that carries sperm to the penis. Vas- is a variant of vaso-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use vaso- article. Vas- comes from the Latin vās, meaning “vessel.” The Latin vās is also the source of the word vase, which is, after all, a type of vessel—often for flowers! And the diminutive form of vās is vāsculum, literally “little vessel”; it’s the source of the word vascular, commonly encountered in cardiovascular. Learn more about cardio- at our Words That Use cardio- and Words That Use cardi- articles.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vas
First recorded in 1645–55, vas is from the Latin word vās vessel
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Visa said that VAS revenue has been growing at more than 25% on a constant-currency basis and makes up around 30% of net revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
To drive home that point, Visa has been highlighting revenue it generates from what it calls value-added services, or VAS.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
It said that the growth of VAS had come while still preserving the company’s overall margins.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
Among the locations searched were homes that were allegedly purchased after VAS executives “plundered” county money.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2024
Some of Do’s colleagues on the board have also blasted VAS for the allegations detailed in the county’s lawsuit.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2024
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
