vape

verb

ˈvāp 

vaped; vaping

transitive + intransitive

: to inhale vapor through the mouth from a usually battery-operated electronic device (such as an electronic cigarette) that heats up and vaporizes a liquid or solid

This electronic cigarette … contains a small reservoir of liquid nicotine solution that is vaporized to form an aerosol mist. The user "vapes," or puffs on the vapor, to get a hit of the addictive nicotine …

—John Tierney

When a person tokes, eats or vapes cannabis, a wave of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, washes into the brain.

—Laura Sanders

vaper noun

The problem is that little is known about the precise dangers of being in the same space as a vaper indulging their e-habit.

—Amber Dance

Examples of vape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The reports also showed whether participants had ever vaped in the past. —Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 12 Apr. 2024

For years, marketing by e-cigarette companies has led teens to try vaping. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024

According to this study, vaping THC is a healthier alternative to consuming THC than smoking. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024

According to Coral Springs police, the bizarre incident began with Figueroa vaping with his cousin while taking a walk around 4:40 a.m. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024

Hawaii ranked sixth for e-cigarette use among Gen Z, with 14.7% of young adults vaping every day and 12.8% vaping some days. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2024

Inhaling Delta 8 via a vaping device usually produces the fastest results of all of the different methods. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Walden was, at the time, the head of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which has assumed primary jurisdiction over regulating the vaping industry. —Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 6 Feb. 2024

The American Heart Association advises people to refrain from smoking or vaping any substance, including cannabis products, because of the potential harm to the heart, lungs and blood vessels. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for vapor entry 1, in reference to the aerosol produced by the cigarette, by analogy with smoke entry 2

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

vape

verb

ˈvāp 

: to inhale vapor through the mouth from a usually battery-operated electronic device that heats up and vaporizes a liquid or solid

Medical Definition

vape

verb

ˈvāp 

vaped; vaping

intransitive verb

: to inhale and exhale vapor from an electronic cigarette or similar device like someone smoking a conventional cigarette

transitive verb

: to inhale or exhale the vapor of

vaper noun

Vapers can inhale huge numbers of very small aerosol particles into the lung's tiniest airways.

—Janet Raloff, Science News