4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vault  \Vault\  (v[add]lt;  see  Note,  below),  n.  [OE.  voute,  OF 
  voute,  volte,  F.  vo[^u]te,  LL  volta,  for  voluta,  volutio, 
  fr  L.  volvere  volutum  to  roll,  to  turn  about  See 
  {Voluble},  and  cf  {Vault}  a  leap,  {Volt}  a  turn,  {Volute}.] 
  1.  (Arch.)  An  arched  structure  of  masonry,  forming  a  ceiling 
  or  canopy. 
 
  The  long-drawn  aisle  and  fretted  vault.  --Gray. 
 
  2.  An  arched  apartment;  especially,  a  subterranean  room  use 
  for  storing  articles,  for  a  prison,  for  interment,  or  the 
  like  a  cell;  a  cellar.  ``Charnel  vaults.''  --Milton. 
 
  The  silent  vaults  of  death.  --Sandys. 
 
  To  banish  rats  that  haunt  our  vault.  --Swift. 
 
  3.  The  canopy  of  heaven;  the  sky. 
 
  That  heaven's  vault  should  crack.  --Shak. 
 
  4.  [F.  volte,  It  volta,  originally,  a  turn,  and  the  same 
  word  as  volta  an  arch.  See  the  Etymology  above.]  A  leap  or 
  bound.  Specifically: 
  a  (Man.)  The  bound  or  leap  of  a  horse;  a  curvet. 
  b  A  leap  by  aid  of  the  hands,  or  of  a  pole,  springboard, 
  or  the  like 
 
  Note:  The  l  in  this  word  was  formerly  often  suppressed  in 
  pronunciation. 
 
  {Barrel},  {Cradle},  {Cylindrical},  or  {Wagon},  {vault} 
  (Arch.),  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}.  (Arch.)  See  under  1st  {Cove},  v.  t. 
 
  {Groined  vault}  (Arch.),  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}.  (Arch.)  See  under  {Rampant}. 
 
  {Ribbed  vault}  (Arch.),  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vault  \Vault\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Vaulted};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Vaulting}.]  [OE.  vouten  OF  volter,  vouter,  F.  vo[^u]ter. 
  See  {Vault}  an  arch.] 
  1.  To  form  with  a  vault,  or  to  cover  with  a  vault;  to  give 
  the  shape  of  an  arch  to  to  arch;  as  vault  a  roof;  to 
  vault  a  passage  to  a  court. 
 
  The  shady  arch  that  vaulted  the  broad  green  alley. 
  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  2.  [See  {Vault},  v.  i.]  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). 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vault  \Vault\,  v.  i.  [Cf.  OF  volter,  F.  voltiger,  It  volt?re 
  turn.  See  {Vault},  n.,  4.] 
  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.  To  exhibit  feats  of  tumbling  or  leaping;  to  tumble. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  vault 
  n  1:  a  burial  chamber  (usually  underground)  [syn:  {burial  vault}] 
  2:  a  compartment  or  room  (often  made  of  steel)  for  safekeeping 
  of  valuables  [syn:  {bank  vault}] 
  3:  an  arched  brick  or  stone  ceiling  or  roof 
  4:  the  act  of  vaulting  [syn:  {hurdle}] 
  v  1:  jump  across  or  leap  over  (an  obstacle)  [syn:  {overleap}] 
  2:  bound  vigorously 

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