Study > 4-letter Words


The 4 letter words with definitions, separated alphabetically.

Now updated for CSW24. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.

vacs(Pl.) VAC, vacation.
vade(Shakesp.) to fade > VADES, VADING, VADED. 'His summer leaves all vaded'.
vaes(Pl.) VAE, a voe.
vagi(Pl.) VAGUS, the tenth cranial nerve.
vags(3rd.) VAG, to arrest someone for vagrancy.
vail(Arch.) to lower, doff, let down > VAILS, VAILING, VAILED.
vainConceited > VAINER, VAINEST; VAINLY.
vairSquirrel fur, much used in medieval times, to line and trim robes > VAIRS.
vale(Lat.) farewell; (noun) a valley > VALES.
vali(Turkish) a governor, esp. of a VILAYET > VALIS. Also WALI.
vamp(Verb) to patch up rather than refurbish > VAMPS, VAMPING, VAMPED.
vaneA device for showing the direction of the wind > VANES, VANED.
vangA guy-rope to steady a gaff > VANGS.
vans(3rd.) VAN, to send or travel by van.
vant(Shakesp.) van, vanguard > VANTS.
vapeto inhale nicotine vapour (from an electronic cigarette) > VAPES, VAPING, VAPED.
vara(Spanish) a Spanish American linear measure > VARAS. [Sp. vara, rod]. Also VARE.
vare(Spanish) a Spanish American linear measure > VARES. [Sp. vara, rod]. Also VARA.
vars(Pl.) VAR, a unit of reactive power.
varyTo become or make different > VARIES, VARYING, VARIED.
vasa(Pl.) VAS, a tube or duct.
vaseA rounded, decorative container > VASES.
vast(Noun) a vastness > VASTS; (adj.) huge > VASTER, VASTEST; VASTLY.
vats(3rd.) VAT, to put stuff in a vat.
vatuThe monetary unit of Vanuatu > VATUS.
vaus(Pl.) VAU, a Hebrew letter.
vaut(Obs.) to vault > VAUTS, VAUTING, VAUTED. Also VAWTE, VAUTE.
vavs(Pl.) VAV, a Hebrew letter.
vaws(Pl.) VAW, a Hebrew letter.
vaxx(v) to vaccinate.
vealThe meat of a calf > VEALS.
veep(US coll.) a vice-president > VEEPS. Also VEEPEE.
veerTo change direction > VEERS, VEERING, VEERED.
vees(Pl.) VEE, a mark or object shaped or angled like a vee.
vega(Spanish) a low fertile plain; a tobacco field > VEGAS.
vego(Coll.) a vegetarian > VEGOS.
vehm(Ger.) a mediaeval German court > VEHME. Also FEHM.
veil(Verb) to cover with a veil > VEILS, VEILING, VEILED.
veinTo fill with veins (tubular blood vessels) > VEINS, VEINING, VEINED.
vela(Pl.) VELUM, a veil or integument.
veld(Afrikaans) open grassland > VELDS. [Afrikaans veld, from Dutch veld, field]. Also VELDT.
vele(Spenser) a veil > VELES.
vellThe fourth stomach of a calf, aka ABOMASUM > VELLS.
vena(Lat.) a vein > VENAE.
vendTo sell > VENDS, VENDING, VENDED.
ventTo provide with a vent (an opening for the escape of gas or liquid) > VENTS, VENTING, VENTED.
veraVery.
verbA word used to express an act, occurrence, or mode of being > VERBS.
verdAs in verd antique, a dark green mottled impure variety of serpentine. No -S.
vers(Fr.) verse.
vert(Noun) in forest law, every green plant having leaves that may serve as a cover for deer; the right to cut this; (verb) (coll.) to become a convert > VERTS, VERTING, VERTED.
veryPrecise, absolute > VERIER, VERIEST; VERILY.
vestAn undergarment for the top half of the body, an UNDERSHIRT; (verb) to place authority in > VESTS, VESTING, VESTED.
veto(Lat.) to forbid > VETOES, VETOING, VETOED.
vets(3rd.) VET, to examine closely.
vext(Obs.) pt. VEX, to distress or annoy.
viae(Pl.) VIA, way, road.
vial(Verb) to put in a vial > VIALS, VIALING or VIALLING, VIALED or VIALLED or (obs.) VIOLD.
vias(Pl.) VIA, way, road.
vibe(Coll.) vibration > VIBES.
vibs(Coll.) shoes with Vibram soles. N.B. no VIB*.
vice(Verb) to grip in a vice > VICES, VICING, VICED.
vide(Lat.) see.
vids(Pl.) VID, video.
vied(Pt.) VIE, to contend in rivalry.
vierOne who vies > VIERS.
vies(3rd.) VIE, to contend in rivalry.
viewTo look at > VIEWS, VIEWING, VIEWED.
viffto change direction abruptly of a VTOL aircraft > VIFFS, VIFFING, VIFFED.
viga(Spanish) a ceiling beam > VIGAS. [Sp. viga, beam, rafter].
vigs(Pl.) VIG, a vigorish.
vild(Spenser) vile > VILDLY. Also VILDE.
vileOdious > VILER, VILEST; VILELY.
villA township, or feudal territorial unit > VILLS.
vims(Pl.) VIM, energy, vigour.
vina(Sanskrit) an Indian stringed instrument > VINAS. Also VEENA.
vine(Verb) to remove vines from e.g. vines and pods from (peas) > VINES, VINING, VINED.
vino(Ital.) (Sl.) wine > VINOS.
vins(Pl.) VIN, wine.
vintA vintage; (verb) to gather a vintage > VINTS, VINTING, VINTED.
vinyOf or pertaining to vines; producing, or abounding in, vines > VINIER, VINIEST.
violAny member of a class of stringed instruments, forerunners of the violin class > VIOLS.
vireTo transfer funds by VIREMENT > VIRES, VIRING, VIRED.
virl(Scots) = FERRULE, a rod or stick > VIRLS.
visa(Verb) to provide with a visa > VISAS, VISAING, VISAED.
vise1. to hold in a vice > VISES, VISED, VISING. 2. to provide with a visa > VISES, VISEING, VISEED.
vita(Lat.) life > VITAE or VITAS.
vite(Fr.) quickly.
viva(Ital.) a shout or cry used to express approval; (verb) to shout viva > VIVAS, VIVAING, VIVAED.
vive(Scots) lively, forcible > VIVELY.
vivo(Ital.) lively.
vizy(Scots) a close or careful look; a gunsight; (verb) to take a close look > VIZIES, VIZYING, VIZIED. Also VISIE, VIZZIE.
vlei(Afrikaans) low-lying ground where a shallow lake forms in the wet season > VLEIS. Also VLY.
vlogA blog using the medium of video; (verb) to keep a video blog > VLOGS, VLOGGING, VLOGGED.
voar(Orkney) spring, seed-time > VOARS.
voes(Pl.) VOE, a bay or creek.
vogs(Pl.) VOG, air pollution caused by volcanic dust.
void(Adj.) empty. No comp > there is VOIDER, but it is a noun. (Verb) to empty > VOIDS, VOIDING, VOIDED.
voipA system for converting analogue signals to digital so that the telephone calls may be made over the internet > VOIPS.
vola(Lat.) the hollow of the hand or foot > VOLAE.
vole(Verb) to win all the tricks in one deal > VOLES, VOLING, VOLED.
volk(Afrikaans) the Afrikaner people > VOLKS.
vols(Pl.) VOL, in heraldry, two wings displayed and conjoined.
voltThe unit of electromotive force > VOLTS.
voms(3rd.) VOM, to vomit.
vors(3rd.) VOR, to warn.
voteTo cast a vote (a formal expression of will or opinion) > VOTES, VOTING, VOTED.
vows(3rd.) VOW, to make a vow or vows.
vrilA hypothetical electric fluid in Bulwer-Lytton > VRILS.
vrot(Afrikaans) rotten; putrid; very bad.
vrou(Afrikaans) a woman, esp. a married woman > VROUS. Also VROW, VROUW, FROW.
vrow(Dutch) a woman, goodwife > VROWS. Also VROUW, FROW, VROU.
vugg(Cornish) a small unfilled cavity in a lode or in rock > VUGGS. [Cornish vooga]. Also VUG, VUGH.
vugh(Cornish) a small unfilled cavity in a lode or in rock > VUGHS. [Cornish vooga]. Also VUG, VUGG.
vugs(Pl.) VUG, a small unfilled cavity in a lode or in rock.
vulnTo wound; pierce with a weapon > VULNS, VULNING, VULNED.
vums(3rd.) VUM, to vow.