vaulting

UK: /ˈvɔːltɪŋ/ US: (vôl′ting)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

vault•ing¹  (vôl′ting), n. 

1. the act or process of constructing vaults.
2. Architecture the structure forming a vault.
3. Architecture a vault, vaulted ceiling, etc., or such structures collectively.

• vault¹ + -ing¹ 1505–15

vault•ing²  (vôl′ting), adj. 

1. leaping up or over.
2. used in vaulting:
   a vaulting pole.
3. excessive in ambition or presumption;
   overweening;
   high-flown:
   vaulting ambition; vaulting pride.

• vault² + -ing² 1525–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vaulting / ˈvɔːltɪŋ/ noun

1. one or more vaults in a building or such structures considered collectively

vaulting / ˈvɔːltɪŋ/ adjective (prenominal)

1. excessively confident; overreaching; exaggerated: vaulting arrogance
2. used to vault: a vaulting pole

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

vault¹ /vɔlt/   n. [countable]

1. Architecture an arched structure, usually of stones, concrete, or bricks, that forms a ceiling or roof.
2. Architecture a space, chamber, or passage enclosed by a vault or vaultlike structure, esp. one located underground.
3. Architecture a room or compartment for the safekeeping of valuables, usually with a locked door and thick walls.
4. Architecture a burial chamber.
5. something thought of as similar to an arched roof:
   the vault of heaven.

vault•ed, adj. 

vault² /vɔlt/   v. 

1. to leap, as to or from a position or over something: [no object]
   He vaulted over the tennis net.
   [~ + object]
   vaulted the fence.
2. [no object] to leap with the hands supported by something, as a horizontal pole.
3. to (cause to) surpass others, as by achieving something: [no object]
   With that discovery, her scientific team vaulted into world prominence.
   [~ + object]
   That discovery vaulted her scientific team into prominence.

n. [countable]

4. the act of vaulting.
5. a leap of a horse.

vault•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

vault¹ (vôlt),  n. 

1. Architecture an arched structure, usually made of stones, concrete, or bricks, forming a ceiling or roof over a hall, room, sewer, or other wholly or partially enclosed construction.
2. Architecture an arched structure resembling a vault.
3. Architecture a space, chamber, or passage enclosed by a vault or vaultlike structure, esp. one located underground.
4. Architecture an underground chamber, as a cellar or a division of a cellar.
5. Architecture a room or compartment, often built of or lined with steel, reserved for the storage and safekeeping of valuables, esp. such a place in a bank.
6. a strong metal cabinet, usually fireproof and burglarproof, for the storage and safekeeping of valuables, important papers, etc.
7. Architecture a burial chamber.
8. Anatomy an arched roof of a cavity.
9. something likened to an arched roof:
   the vault of heaven.

v.t. 

10. to construct or cover with a vault.
11. to make in the form of a vault;
    arch.
12. to extend or stretch over in the manner of an arch;
    overarch:
    An arbor vaulted the path.
13. to store in a vault:
    The paintings will be vaulted when the museum is closed.

v.i. 

14. to curve or bend in the form of a vault.

• Old French vou(l)ter, volter, derivative of vou(l)te, volte
• Vulgar Latin *volvita, for Latin volūta, noun, nominal use of feminine past participle of Latin volvere to turn (see revolve); (verb, verbal) alteration of Middle English vouten
• Old French vou(l)te, volte
• (noun, nominal) alteration of Middle English voute 1300–50

vault′like′, adj. 

vault² (vôlt),  v.i. 

1. to leap or spring, as to or from a position or over something:
   He vaulted over the tennis net.
2. to leap with the hands supported by something, as by a horizontal pole.
3. Sport [Gymnastics.] to leap over a vaulting or pommel horse, using the hands for pushing off.
4. to arrive at or achieve something as if by a spring or leap:
   to vault into prominence.

v.t. 

5. to leap over:
   to vault a fence.
6. to cause to leap over or surpass others:
   Advertising has vaulted the new perfume into first place.

n. 

7. the act of vaulting.
8. a leap of a horse;
   curvet.
9. Sport [Gymnastics.] a running jump over a vaulting or pommel horse, usually finishing with an acrobatic dismount.

• Italian volta (noun, nominal) and voltare (verb, verbal); see volt²
• French volte a turn and volter to turn, respectively
• 1530–40

vault′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See jump. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vault / vɔːlt/ noun

1. an arched structure that forms a roof or ceiling
2. a room, esp a cellar, having an arched roof down to floor level
3. a burial chamber, esp when underground
4. a strongroom for the safe-deposit and storage of valuables
5. an underground room or part of such a room, used for the storage of wine, food, etc
6. any arched or domed bodily cavity or space: the cranial vault
7. something suggestive of an arched structure, as the sky

verb

1. (transitive) to furnish with or as if with an arched roof
2. (transitive) to construct in the shape of a vault
3. (intransitive) to curve, arch, or bend in the shape of a vault

Etymology: 14th Century: vaute, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin volvita (unattested) a turn, probably from Latin volvere to roll

vault / vɔːlt/ verb

1. to spring over (an object), esp with the aid of a long pole or with the hands resting on the object
2. (intransitive) to do, achieve, or attain something as if by a leap: he vaulted to fame on the strength of his discovery

noun

1. the act of vaulting

ˈvaulter noun