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vet

n. · v.
US //ˈvɛt// UK //vˈɛt// vet
  1. 1 animal doctor (n.)
    A2 Elementary Informal Medicine

    a doctor who treats animals when they are sick or injured.

    a veterinarian or veterinary surgeon. Often used as a clipped form in general register.

    Example

    We had to take the cat to the vet because she stopped eating.

    Example

    The local vet recommended a specialized diet to manage the golden retriever's joint inflammation and overall weight.
  2. 2 former soldier (n.)
    B1 Intermediate American English Informal

    someone who used to be in the army, navy, or air force.

    a veteran; a person who has served in the armed forces. Primarily an American English clipping.

    Example

    My grandfather is a navy vet who served during the war.

    Example

    The organization provides housing assistance and career counseling for homeless vets returning from overseas deployments.
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  1. 3 to check or screen (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to check someone or something carefully to make sure they are suitable for a job.

    to subject a person or document to a thorough examination or evaluation, typically for the purpose of security or professional approval.

    Example

    The company will vet all new employees before they start working with sensitive data.

    Example

    The committee spent several weeks vetting the candidates' financial backgrounds to ensure there were no potential conflicts of interest.

    Usage

    This is a transitive verb and always requires a direct object.
Etymology 1

Clipping of veterinarian.

Etymology 2

Clipping of veteran.

Etymology 3

Possibly by analogy from Etymology 1, in the sense of "verifying the soundness [of an animal]"

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