Glossary
Terms starting with V
84 definitions · page 1 of 2.
- V-Chip Program Lockout
- This feature allows parents to use television rating codes to block programs that they feel are inappropriate for their children to view. The V-Chip can be turned on and off through the on-screen menu, using a four digit, user-programmed code. Once you…
- V-neck V-back
- An open yoke coming to a "V" shape midway down the bodice.
- VA
- Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Vacherin
- A seasonal cows’ milk cheese that's made during the winter months in France and Switzerland. When it's fully ripe, after two to three months, the crust of this cheese encases a runny-textured cheese that has a mild, sweet and creamy taste. It's so soft that…
- VAIABLE COSTS
- Costs that do vary in response to sales - as sales go up, so do your costs.
- Value Added Tax (VAT Tax)
- VAT is a means of taxing that is becoming more and more popular. A Value Added Tax is essentially a consumption tax levied on the value increment added to a product as it passes through each stage along its production process, including a tax at the time of…
- VALUED POLICY
- A policy under which the insurer pays a specified amount of money to or on behalf of the insured upon the occurrence of a defined loss. The money amount is not related to the extent of the loss. Life insurance policies are an example.
- Van Allen belts
- two belts of charged particles from the solar wind that have been trapped by Earth’s magnetic field above Earth’s atmosphere
- VANDALISM
- The malicious and often random destruction or spoilage of another person’s property.
- Vanilla pod
- The sweetly fragrant dried, cured pods of the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia), which is native to Central America and Mexico. (There are other varieties from Tahiti and Hawaii.) The pods can be used either whole or split to reveal the aromatic seeds…
- VAPOR BARRIER
- A material with a permeance of one perm or less which provides resistance to the transmission of water vapor. [See California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Section 2-5302]
- VARIABLE ANNUITY
- An annuity whose contract value or income payments vary according to the performance of the stocks, bonds and other investments selected by the contract owner.
- VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE
- A policy that combines protection against premature death with a savings account that can be invested in stocks, bonds, and money market mutual funds at the policyholder’s discretion.
- variable star
- a star that varies in luminosity
- Variance
- A variance occurs when there is a disagreement between the specific allegation in the pleadings and the actual proof adduced at trial. Also, the term refers to a departure from local city zoning ordinances. This is called a variance and is granted by the…
- variation
- (1) Generally, an altered version of a rhythm, motive, or theme; (2) in theme and variations, each regular section following the theme, in which the phrase lengths and harmonization remain true (or close) to the theme while the rhythms, melodies, and…
- Varicose Veins
- Swollen and dilated veins, usually visible on the legs.
- variegated
- Having streaks, marks, or patches of different colors; distinguished or characterized by a variety of different colors.
- VAV System (Variable Air Volume System)
- A mechanical HVAC system capable of serving multiple zones which controls the temperature maintained in a zone by controlling the amount of heated or cooled air supplied to the zone.
- VBScript
- Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition. Interpreted scripting language (subset of MS Visual Basic language) for creating scripts that can be embedded in HTML pages or for creating ActiveX Controls. Meant as an alternative to JavaScript. Here is the…
- Vegetable shortening
- A vegetarian alternative to lard, this is a solid fat made from hydrogenated vegetable oils. It can be substituted for other fats in cooking and is often used in baking.
- Vehicle Rollover Cases
- A product liability claim brought against automobile manufacturers based on a tendency for a particular model of motor vehicle to rollover under otherwise normal driving conditions or when making reasonable driving responses to foreseeable traffic conditions.
- Velocity Modulated Scan
- An advanced circuitry located along the neck of the CRT that senses transitions from dark to light in the video signal. The black and white portions of the signal are sped up and slowed down respectively, resulting in sharp dark to light transitions and…
- VENTILATION
- The process of supplying or removing air by natural or mechanical means to or from any space. Such air may or may not have been conditioned or treated.
- Venue
- Venue refers to the physical location of the court.
- Verdict
- Verdict refers to the official finding made by the jury. This is the up or down conclusion.
- VERIFICATION PHASE
- The step of the California Energy Contingency Plan to determine the existence and scope of an energy shortage and report to Energy Commission executives, the Governor and the Legislature where required under the plan.
- verismo
- A descriptive term for a realistic, often sensational, type of late-Romantic Italian opera, whose disreputable characters are caught up in lust, greed, betrayal, or revenge.
- Verjus or verjuice
- Literally 'green juice', this is a sour juice made from sour grapes, crab apples or other unripe fruit. It was used a great deal in medieval European cookery and is undergoing a revival. It's used as a flavouring in certain condiments, and in cooking can be…
- Vermicelli
- Vermicelli is very fine, long strands of pasta - like a skinny spaghetti - often used in soups. The name means 'little worms' in Italian. It's available fresh or dried. Dried vermicelli is usually sold boxed in coiled nests to prevent the delicate strands…
- vernacular dramas
- A sung monophonic play presented in the Middle Ages by roving minstrels, who freely mixed secular texts, instrumental music, and plainchant.
- vernal equinox
- the time of year around March 21 when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading north
- verse
- One of two sections (verse and bridge) of many American popular songs, especially common in the sequence verse-verse-bridge-verse.
- Vertical banner
- a banner ad measuring 120 pixels wide and 240 pixels tall.
- VERTICAL INTEGRATION
- An arrangement whereby the same company owns all the different aspects of making, selling, and delivering a product or service. In the electric industry, it refers to the historically common arrangement whereby a utility would own its own generating…
- VIATICAL SETTLEMENT COMPANIES
- Insurance firms that buy life insurance policies at a steep discount from policyholders who are often terminally ill and need the payment for medications or treatments. The companies provide early payouts to the policyholder, assume the premium payments, and…
- vibrato
- On string instruments, small but rapid fluctuations in pitch used to intensify a sound.
- Vichyssoise
- A velvety soup made from potatoes, leeks and cream, blended until smooth and served cold, garnished with chopped chives. The name is sometimes used to refer to any cold soup based on potatoes and another vegetable.
- Video Input Labelling
- Allows you to assign an on-screen label to each of the video inputs on the TV for easy identification of the video signal source. Video inputs can be labelled VCR, DVD or DBS instead of Video 1, Video 2, etc. Up to eight characters per label can be used.
- Video Lottery Terminal (VLT)
- Electronic games of chance played on a video screen. They often simulate popular casino games such as blackjack, poker, or spinning-reel slot machines (for all about 'Slot Machines' click here). Unlike slot machines, video lottery terminals do not dispense…
- Video Noise Reduction (VNR)
- In the event of weak signal conditions, video noise reduction reduces the noise, or "snow," in the luminance channel. It is important to note that VNR should remain off for maximum picture detail when receiving a strong signal or viewing high-quality video…
- viewer
- An stand-alone application used to display files of different formats. For example a QuickTime move viewer or a JPG file viewer.
- Viewing Screen New VVLL
- The new VVLL (variable vertical lenticular lens) viewing screen on projection TVs transfers more light to the outer edges of the picture to improve the overall brightness uniformity, resulting in a more natural looking image.
- vignetting
- uneven or reduced illumination over the image plane in a telescope or camera, causing distortion such as dimming near the edge of an image
- Vinaigrette
- Also known as French dressing, vinaigrette is French for 'little vinegar'. It's a fairly thick salad dressing made from a mixture of olive oil, wine vinegar (red, white or balsamic) and salt and pepper to which various flavourings can be added, such as…
- VIP PARTY
- A private party often held the night before a restaurant opening. You invite community leaders, business associates, neighborhood business employees, family (yours and the employees), friends (yours and the employees), the mayor, and the local media to your…
- Viral marketing
- marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message.
- Virgin
- A colloquial term referring to a number or number combination that has never been drawn.
- Virgo Cluster
- a group of about 2,500 known galaxies lying near the north galactic pole in the constellation Virgo
- Virtual Particle
- A particle that exists only for an extremely brief instant in an intermediary process. Then the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle allows an apparent violation of the conservation of energy. However, if one sees only the initial decaying particle and the final…
- virtuosity
- In a composition, a focus on exceptional technical demands; in a performance, a focus on exceptional technical display.
- virtuoso
- A performer with exceptional technical skills.
- Virus
- A virus is a malicious program written to do as much harm as possible. Viruses can spread themselves over the network.
- Visa
- A permit for a person to apply to enter the United States. A person applies for a visa in the consular section of an American embassy or consulate abroad. Most citizens of foreign countries need visas to enter the United States. Under U.S. law the Department…
- Visa
- Visa in immigration law refers to the written certification that an international travel document bears indicating that the document has been examined and is correct.
- Visa Expiration Date
- The visa expiration date is shown on the visa. Depending on the alien’s nationality, visas can be issued for any number of entries, from as little as one entry to as many as multiple (unlimited) entries, for the same purpose of travel. This generally means…
- Visa Numbers
- Congress establishes the amount of immigration each year. Immigration in certain categories, such as immediate relatives, is unlimited, but preference categories are limited. To distribute the visas fairly among all categories of immigration the Visa Office…
- Visa Validity
- This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel for the same purpose for visas, when the visa is issued for multiple entry. The visa expiration date is shown on the visa. Depending on…
- Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
- Allows citizens of certain participating countries, meeting the Visa Waiver Program requirements to enter the United States as visitors for pleasure or business without first getting a visa. Visitors can stay only 90 days and can not extend their stay.
- visible light
- the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye