vice
//vaɪs//
Forms
- Plural
- vices
- present (v1)
- vice
- past (v2)
- viced
- past participle (v3)
- viced
- present participle
- vicing
- 3rd person singular
- vices
Definitions
1.Bad or immoral behaviour. (Especially often, a habit that harms oneself or others)
- Pride is a vice, not a virtue.
- Smoking was a vice Sally picked up in high school.
- Shepard: I wear a lot of hats, Mr. Vargas. Some days I shut down criminals. Some days I defuse nukes. Some days I like to enjoy private vices. You understand me?
2.Any of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to weapons, prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
3.A defect in the temper or behaviour of a horse, such as to make the animal dangerous, to injure its health, or to diminish its usefulness.
4.Clipping of vice squad.(slang)
1.in place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rank
1.Alternative spelling of vise (“to hold or squeeze with a vice”).
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2395
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
PIE word
*dwóh₁
From Middle English vice, from Old French vice, from Latin vitium (“fault or blemish”). Displaced native Old English unþēaw.