vest

[vest]

noun

1. a close-fitting, waist-length, sleeveless garment that buttons down the front, designed to be worn under a jacket.

2. a part or trimming simulating the front of such a garment; vestee.

3. a waist-length garment worn for protective purposes.

   a bulletproof vest.

4. a sleeveless, waist- or hip-length garment made of various materials, with a front opening usually secured by buttons, a zipper, or the like, worn over a shirt, blouse, dress, or other article for style or warmth.

   a sweater vest; a down vest.

5. British.,  an undervest or undershirt.

6. a long garment resembling a cassock, worn by men in the time of Charles II.

7. Archaic.

   1. dress; apparel.

   2. an outer garment, robe, or gown.

   3. an ecclesiastical vestment.

verb (used with object)

1. to clothe; dress; robe.

2. to dress in ecclesiastical vestments.

   to vest a bishop.

3. to cover or drape (an altar).

4. to place or settle (something, especially property, rights, powers, etc.) in the possession or control of someone (usually followed byin ).

   to vest authority in a new official.

5. to invest or endow (a person, group, committee, etc.) with something, as powers, functions, or rights.

   to vest the board with power to increase production; to vest an employee with full benefits in the pension plan.

verb (used without object)

1. to put on vestments.

2. to become vested in a person, as a right.

3. to devolve upon a person as possessor; pass into possession or ownership.

vest

/ vɛst /

noun

1. US and Canadian equivalent: T-shirt.  undershirt. Austral equivalent: singlet. an undergarment covering the body from the shoulders to the hips, made of cotton, nylon, etc

2. Austral equivalent: singlet. a similar sleeveless garment worn as outerwear

3. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): waistcoat. a man's sleeveless waistlength garment worn under a suit jacket, usually buttoning up the front

4. obsolete,  any form of dress, esp a long robe

verb

1. to place or settle (power, rights, etc, in)

   power was vested in the committee

2. to bestow or confer (on)

   the company was vested with authority

3. (usually foll by in) to confer (a right, title, property, etc, upon) or (of a right, title, etc) to pass (to) or devolve (upon)

4. (tr) to clothe or array

5. (intr) to put on clothes, ecclesiastical vestments, etc

Other Word Forms

• vestless adjective
• vestlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vest¹

1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English < Italian veste robe, dress < Latin vestis garment; (v.) late Middle English < Middle French vestir < Latin vestīre to clothe, derivative of vestis; akin to wear

Word History and Origins

Origin of vest¹

C15: from Old French vestir to clothe, from Latin vestīre, from vestis clothing

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. play it close to the vest, to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Example Sentences

She designed all kinds of pieces, from striped vests and floor-length dresses to lightweight pants and winter coats.

From Los Angeles Times

The retirees gathered at 8 a.m. near the G Line station in Canoga Park, impossible to miss in their neon yellow vests.

From Los Angeles Times

Swift is already well-versed in keeping operations close to the vest and goes to great lengths to preserve the element of surprise in her personal life and career.

From BBC

Also found was a tactical vest that had far-right patches on it.

From BBC

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were conducting raids in Ontario on July 8 while wearing government-issued equipment, including law enforcement vests, the release states.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bestow 
• confer 
• empower 
• endow 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of vest?

A vest is an article of clothing worn on the upper body, with no sleeves and with buttons down the front. The word vest is also used generally to refer to any similar garment. As a verb, vest means to put something in the possession of another person. Vest has several other senses as a noun and a verb.In the United States, the word vest refers to a sleeveless garment usually worn over a shirt and sometimes under a jacket. A vest is generally not supposed to be worn by itself.

• Real-life examples: The Disney cartoon character Goofy usually wears a black or brown vest over an orange shirt. If you wear a tuxedo, you will often wear a vest with it.



• Used in a sentence: A man’s three-piece suit includes a suit coat, vest, and trousers.

The word vest is also used to refer to other garments that lack sleeves and end at the waist.

• Real-life examples: Police officers wear bulletproof vests for protection. Airplanes, boats, and public pools keep life vests available to keep people from drowning. Hunters wear hunting vests with many pockets to store supplies.



• Used in a sentence: The professor could always be seen smoking a pipe and wearing a sweater vest.

As a verb, vest means to give power, rights, or responsibility to another person. This sense of vest is usually written as “vest in.”

• Real-life example: Most Americans are likely familiar with this sense of vest if they have attended a wedding: A religious figure will alert the attendees that a state has vested in them the power and authority to join people in a legally recognized marriage.



• Used in a sentence: Executive power is vested in the President through the Constitution.