vista

¹

[vis-tuh]

noun

1. a view or prospect, especially one seen through a long, narrow avenue or passage, as between rows of trees or houses.

2. such an avenue or passage, especially when formally planned.

3. a far-reaching mental view.

   vistas of the future.

   Synonyms: vision, outlook, prospect

Vista

²

[vis-tuh]

noun

1. a town in SW California.

VISTA

³

[vis-tuh]

noun

1. a national program in the U.S., sponsored by ACTION, for sending volunteers into poor areas to teach various job skills.

vista

¹

/ ˈvɪstə /

noun

1. a view, esp through a long narrow avenue of trees, buildings, etc, or such a passage or avenue itself; prospect

   a vista of arches

2. a comprehensive mental view of a distant time or a lengthy series of events

   the vista of the future

VISTA

²

/ ˈvɪstə /

acronym

1. Volunteers in Service to America; an organization of volunteers established by the Federal government to assist the poor

Other Word Forms

• vistaless adjective
• vistaed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vista¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Italian: “a view,” noun use of feminine of visto (past participle of vedere “to see,” from Latin vidēre )

Origin of vista²

V(olunteers) i(n) S(ervice) t(o) A(merica)

Word History and Origins

Origin of vista¹

C17: from Italian: a view, from vedere to see, from Latin vidēre

Synonym Study

See view.

Example Sentences

Within two days, 40-plus miles and some 5,000 feet of elevation, I was gobsmacked by the vistas, the morning light on the canyons and the solitude on the campground — aside from the abundant wildlife.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They had miles of trails, winding creeks, and a sense of peace that many said they felt deep in their souls whenever they looked out at their mountain vistas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Such lessons not only open up the magical world of mountain vistas, but they also teach responsibility and self reliance back in civilization.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Now suddenly the vista of freedom and choice and what I might do has been opened up to me."

Read more on BBC

Chock-full of previously unheard tunes, the collection affords music lovers with new vistas for experiencing Springsteen’s work.

Read more on Salon

When To Use

What does vista mean?

A vista is a wide view of a scene, especially a sweeping outdoor scene such as a mountain valley or beach.Traditionally, vista referred to a view seen through a long, narrow passage, such as between two rows of trees or buildings, but this meaning is now less commonly used.Example: The description for this hotel room claims that we’ll have a vista of the mountain at sunrise from our balcony.