English Words Starting With V

• valediction

  nounLow
  /ˌvæl.ɪˈdɪk.ʃən/The act of saying goodbye, or the words used when saying goodbye.
• valediction forbidding mourning, a

  nounC2
  /ə ˌvæl.ɪˈdɪk.ʃən fəˌbɪd.ɪŋ ˈmɔː.nɪŋ/A famous metaphysical poem by John Donne from the 17th century, comparing the separation of lovers to a peaceful death and the steady movement of celestial bodies.
• valedictorian

  adjectivenounC1
  /ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːriən/The student, usually with the highest academic rank in their graduating class, who delivers a farewell speech at a graduation ceremony.
• valedictory

  adjectivenounC2
  /ˌvæl.ɪˈdɪk.tər.i/relating to or serving as a farewell, especially a final address or speech given at a graduation ceremony.
• valence

  nounC1/C2
  /ˈveɪləns/In chemistry: the combining power of an element, expressed as the number of hydrogen atoms it can combine with or displace.
• valence band

  nounC2 (Highly Specialised)
  /ˈveɪləns ˌbænd/In physics, specifically solid-state physics, the highest range of electron energies in which electrons are normally present at absolute zero temperature, constituting the bound, low-energy states that are filled with electrons.
• valence electron

  nounLow
  /ˈveɪləns ɪˈlɛktrɒn/An electron in the outermost shell of an atom that can participate in chemical bonding.
• valence-conduction band

  nounC2
  /ˈveɪləns kənˈdʌkʃən bænd/In solid-state physics and semiconductor theory, the valence band is the highest energy range occupied by electrons in a solid at absolute zero, while the conduction band is the next higher energy band that is empty or partially filled at absolute zero. The energy gap between them (band gap) determines electrical conductivity.
• valencia

  nounC1
  /vəˈlenʃə/A city on the eastern coast of Spain; the capital of the Valencian Community.
• valenciennes

  nounLow
  /vəˌlɒn.siˈen/A very fine, handmade lace, traditionally featuring intricate floral patterns and a distinctive open, net-like ground.
• valency

  nounC2
  /ˈveɪlənsi/The combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with.
• valency electron

  nounLow (specialised technical term)
  /ˈveɪləns ɪˌlɛktrɒn/An electron in the outermost shell of an atom that can participate in chemical bonding.
• valency grammar

  nounC2
  /ˈveɪlənsi ˈɡræmə/A linguistic theory that analyses the number and type of arguments (complements) a verb or other lexical head (like a noun, adjective) requires or can take to form a grammatical clause.
• valens

  nounC2
  /ˈveɪ.lənz/In linguistics, a term referring to the number of arguments a verb requires to form a complete grammatical construction.
• valentine

  nounMedium
  /ˈvæl.ən.taɪn/A person chosen or greeted as a sweetheart or love interest on Valentine's Day (February 14th).
• valentine's day

  nounHigh
  /ˈvæl.ən.taɪnz ˌdeɪ/A fixed annual holiday on February 14th, traditionally associated with the celebration of romantic love and affection, often involving the exchange of cards, gifts, or expressions of love.
• valentinian i

  nounC2
  /ˌvælənˈtɪniən ðə ˈfɜːst/The Roman emperor from 364 to 375 AD, who ruled the western half of the Roman Empire and was known for his military campaigns and fortification of frontiers.
• valentinian ii

  nounC2 (Very Low Frequency / Historical Specialized)
  /ˌvælənˈtɪnɪən ðə ˈsekənd/Flavius Valentinianus (371–392), Western Roman Emperor from 375 to 392 AD, ruling jointly with his half-brother Gratian and later under the regency of his mother.
• valentinian iii

  nounLow
  /ˌvæl.ənˈtɪn.i.ən ðə ˈθɜːd/Proper noun: the name of a specific historical figure, the Western Roman Emperor who reigned from AD 425 to 455.
• valentinite

  nounVery Low (Academic/Technical)
  /ˈvæləntɪnaɪt/A white, grey, or yellowish mineral consisting of antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃).

Showing 141–160 of 2200 words.