Vesuvius

American  

[vuh-soo-vee-uhs] / vəˈsu vi əs /

noun

1. Mount, an active volcano in SW Italy, near Naples. Its eruption destroyed the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum a.d. 79. About 3,900 feet (1,190 meters).

---

Vesuvius British  

/ vɪˈsuːvɪəs /

noun

1. Italian name: Vesuvio.  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)

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Vesuvius

Vesuvius in AD 79, he wasn’t just horrified, he was mesmerized, even excited; amid all that death it felt like the past was alive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

A mechanical artwork first imagined in 1775 to recreate the eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius has been brought to life for the first time, 250 years after it was conceived.

From Science Daily ● May 2, 2026

A market miles away from Vesuvius may have saved the lives of many who would have otherwise been in the volcano’s path of destruction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

If the eruption had occurred in August, the population surrounding Vesuvius would have been far denser than usual and the death toll potentially higher.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

‘In 79 C.E., Vesuvius erupted and covered the town in ash.’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan