Vesuvius

[vuh-soo-vee-uh s]

noun

Mount, an active volcano in SW Italy, near Naples. Its eruption destroyed the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum a.d. 79. About 3900 feet (1190 meters).

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Examples from the Web for vesuvius

Historical Examples of vesuvius

It is a greater mountain than Vesuvius and has done more work than she has done.
Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae
Jennie Hall
So for three centuries people have watched Vesuvius at work.
Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae
Jennie Hall
There was a pleasant farmhouse out of town on the slope of Vesuvius.
Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae
Jennie Hall
Nowadays men know from history what may happen when Vesuvius wakes.
Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae
Jennie Hall
Vesuvius, with its column of smoke, was in plain view from the seats.
Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae
Jennie Hall

British Dictionary definitions for vesuvius

Vesuvius

noun

a volcano in SW Italy, on the Bay of Naples: first recorded eruption in 79 ad, which destroyed Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae; numerous eruptions since then. Average height: 1220 m (4003 ft)Italian name: Vesuvio (veˈzuːvjo)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vesuvius

Vesuvius

volcano near Naples, of unknown origin; perhaps from Celtic root *ves- "mountain" or Oscan fesf "smoke, steam."