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

A jumble of rectangles snaps into a rigidly composed vista of a white gate set into an earthy wall.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The course passed lakes and circled horse pastures, gravel roads, rocky creeks, mountain vistas and hills so steep you felt you could stretch your hands straight in front of you and touch the ground ahead.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That property will feature a sizable terrace that will enable residents to take full advantage of the awe-inspiring vistas.

Read more on MarketWatch

People move to places like Topanga, in part, because they love the chaparral-dotted vistas, the backyard oak woodlands and the privacy of life in the canyon.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Vermont’s economy relies on tourism, and many residents say they welcome the roughly 2.5 million visitors who come for the idyllic autumnal vistas.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.