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vomit

v. · n.
US //ˈvɑmət// UK //vˈɒmɪt// vom·it
  1. 1 to eject or spew (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to send out a large amount of something quickly and forcefully, like smoke from a chimney.

    to emit or discharge matter forcefully from a confined space. Often used metaphorically for machines or natural openings.

    Example

    The volcano started to vomit thick black smoke into the sky.

    Example

    The industrial chimneys continued to vomit toxic fumes into the atmosphere, ignoring the environmental regulations established the previous year.
  2. 2 the substance (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the food or liquid that has come out of someone's stomach.

    the matter ejected from the stomach during the act of vomiting.

    Example

    There was vomit on the floor of the taxi after the party.

    Example

    The janitor used a special disinfectant powder to clean the vomit off the hallway carpet before the students returned from lunch.

    Usage

    Usually functions as an uncountable noun.
Origin

From Middle English vomiten, from Latin vomitāre (“vomit repeatedly”), frequentative form of vomō (“be sick, vomit”), from Proto-Indo-European *wemh₁- (“to spew, vomit”). Cognate with Old Norse váma (“nausea, malaise”), Old English wemman (“to defile”). More at wem.

Idioms1 entry

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