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Entry 8 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Vault

/(va̤lt; see Note, below)/ · IPA /vɑlt/
01 n. An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.
  1. 1.
    An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.(Arch.)
    “The long-drawn aisle and fretted vault.” — Gray.
  2. 2.
    An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, used for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like; a cell; a cellar.
    “The silent vaults of death.” — Sandys.
    “To banish rats that haunt our vault.” — Swift.
  3. 3.
    The canopy of heaven; the sky.
    “That heaven's vault should crack.” — Shak.
  4. 4.
    A leap or bound.(Man.)
Phrases & compounds
Barrel vault — a kind of vault having two parallel abutments, and the same section or profile at all points. It may be rampant, as over a staircase (see Rampant vault, under Rampant), or curved in plan, as around the apse of a church.
Coved vault — See under 1st Cove, v. t.
Groined vault — a vault having groins, that is, one in which different cylindrical surfaces intersect one another, as distinguished from a barrel, or wagon, vault.
Rampant vault — See under Rampant.
Ribbed vault — a vault differing from others in having solid ribs which bear the weight of the vaulted surface. True Gothic vaults are of this character.
Vault light — a partly glazed plate inserted in a pavement or ceiling to admit light to a vault below.
02 v. t. To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch; as, to vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court.
imp. & p. p. Vaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaulting
  1. 1.
    To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch; as, to vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court.
    “The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley.” — Sir W. Scott.
  2. 2.
    To leap over; esp., to leap over by aid of the hands or a pole; as, to vault a fence.
    “I will vault credit, and affect high pleasures.” — Webster (1623).
03 v. i. To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.
  1. 1.
    To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.
    “Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself.” — Shak.
    “Leaning on his lance, he vaulted on a tree.” — Dryden.
    “Lucan vaulted upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth.” — Addison.
  2. 2.
    To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble.