vault

Everyday

1. A vault is a strong, locked room for keeping money and treasure safe, as in a bank. tree →
2. A vault is a room under a church or building, sometimes used for burying people. tree →
3. A vault is an arched roof or ceiling. tree →
4. To vault is to jump over something, pushing off with your hands or with a pole; a vault is that jump. tree →
5. To vault can also mean to jump up onto something, such as a horse, using your hands to push off. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and gymnastics, pupils vault over a vaulting box or horse; in athletics there is the pole vault. In stories, robbers try to break into a bank vault full of gold. In history, old churches have vaulted ceilings. Phrases: «bank vault», «pole vault», «vault over», «vaulting box».

Examples

• The gold was kept in a bank vault. tree →
• She vaulted over the gate. tree →
• In gymnastics, we jumped over the vault. tree →
• The pole vault champion cleared a high bar. tree →
• The church had a high stone vault. tree →
• The robbers could not open the vault. tree →
• He placed his hands on the box and vaulted over. tree →
• Jose thanked him, and vaulting on his horse they rode on to the river. tree →

Note

Countable noun; regular verb: vaulted, vaulting. Spelt -ault (the l is pronounced). The «pole vault» uses a long flexible pole. Do not confuse with «fault».

In Jewish tradition

Here it means an underground tomb or burial chamber. Isaiah criticizes people who sit in graves and vaults, which was a pagan practice.

Interpretation. Because the dead make a person ritually impure, the tradition reads this as a sharp warning against idol worship and impure rites.

Examples

• That sit among the graves, and lodge in the vaults; that eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; (Prophets ISA.65.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable noun; regular verb: vaulted, vaulting. Spelt -ault (the l is pronounced). The «pole vault» uses a long flexible pole. Do not confuse with «fault».