vault

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈvȯlt 

1

a

: an arched structure of masonry usually forming a ceiling or roof

b

: something (such as the sky) resembling a vault

c

: an arched or dome-shaped anatomical structure

the cranial vault

2

a

: a space covered by an arched structure

especially : an underground passage or room

b

: an underground storage compartment

c

: a room or compartment for the safekeeping of valuables

3

a

: a burial chamber

b

: a prefabricated container usually of metal or concrete into which a casket is placed at burial

vaulty

ˈvȯl-tē 

adjective

Illustration of vault

• vault 1a

vault

2 of 4

verb (1)

vaulted; vaulting; vaults

transitive verb

: to form or cover with or as if with a vault : arch

vault

3 of 4

verb (2)

vaulted; vaulting; vaults

intransitive verb

1

: to leap vigorously

especially : to execute a leap using the hands or a pole

2

: to do or achieve something as if by a leap

vaulted to sudden prominence

transitive verb

: to leap over

especially : to leap over by or as if by aid of the hands or a pole

vault

4 of 4

noun (2)

: an act of vaulting : leap

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• tomb
• mausoleum
• crypt

Verb (2)

• leap
• jump
• hop

Noun (2)

• leap
• jump

Examples of vault in a Sentence

Noun (1)

archaeologists were thrilled to discover an ancient vault that hadn't been looted by grave robbers

Verb (2)

vaulted over the obstacle with ease

Noun (2)

a vault over the car's hood by the frightened deer

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The vault-like room with its large steel access doors held all of the recovered pieces—about 40 percent of the total orbiter—and was a departure from what NASA had done after its previous spaceflight disasters. —Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025

Faulí showed me where Gaudí had begun building a traditional Gothic rib to support the vault. —D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025

Verb

Speaking of the Astros, the Rangers are headed to Houston now, with a chance to vault themselves past their division rivals and into a playoff spot. —Zack Meisel, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025

With a single photo, though, Swift vaulted it from obscurity into obsession. —Malaika Crawford, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English vaute, voute, borrowed from Anglo-French voute, volte, going back to Vulgar Latin *volvita "turn, arched structure," noun derivative from feminine of *volvitus, re-formation of Latin volūtus, past participle of volvere "to travel (a circular course), bring round, roll" — more at wallow entry 1

Verb (1)

Middle English vowten, borrowed from Anglo-French vouter, verbal derivative of voute vault entry 1

Verb (2)

probably borrowed from Middle French vouster "to turn about (on horseback), wheel, prance," going back to Vulgar Latin *volvitāre, frequentative of Latin volvere "to travel (a circular course), bring round, roll" — more at wallow entry 1

Noun (2)

noun derivative of vault entry 3

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1538, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1576, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vault

• barrel vault
• cross vault
• fan vault
• pole vault
• the pole vault

Rhymes for vault

• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• malt
• sault
• walt
• asphalt
• assault
• basalt
• cobalt
• default

Kids Definition

vault

1 of 3 noun

ˈvȯlt 

1

a

: an arched structure of stone or concrete forming a ceiling or roof

b

: an arch or dome suggesting a vault

the vault of the sky

2

: a room or compartment for storage or safekeeping

a bank vault

3

: a burial chamber

vault

2 of 3 verb

: to leap or leap over with the aid of the hands or a pole

vaulter noun

vault

3 of 3 noun

: an act of vaulting : leap

Medical Definition

vault

noun

ˈvȯlt, chiefly British ˈvält 

: an arched or dome-shaped anatomical structure: as

a

: skullcap, calvarium

the cranial vault

b

: fornix sense d