Vault Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of VAULT

[count]

1

:

an arched structure that forms a ceiling or roof

• They gazed up at the vault of the cathedral.

— sometimes used figuratively to refer to the sky

• the vault of heaven

2

:

a locked room where money or valuable things are kept

• a bank vault

3

:

a room or chamber in which a dead person is buried

Britannica Dictionary definition of VAULT

1

:

to jump over (something)

[+ object]

• The dog vaulted the fence.

especially

:

to jump over (something) by using your hands or a pole to push yourself upward

[+ object]

• She vaulted the fence easily.

[no object]

— often + over

• She put her hands on the top of the fence and vaulted over it easily.

2

chiefly US

:

to move suddenly and quickly into a better position

[no object]

• The team vaulted [=_jumped_] into the lead.
• She vaulted to fame [=she suddenly became famous] when her first movie was a hit.

[+ object]

• The success of the movie vaulted her to fame.

— vaulter

/ˈvɑːltɚ/

noun,

plural

vaulters

[count]

• She's the first vaulter [=_pole-vaulter_] to clear that height.

Britannica Dictionary definition of VAULT

[noncount]

:

a jump that is made over something especially by using your hands or a pole to push yourself upward

• The gymnast performed a difficult vault.

— see also pole vault