vice — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Bad or immoral behaviour. (Especially often, a habit that harms oneself or others)

   Synonyms

   profligacy

   Antonyms

   virtue

   Examples

   Pride is a vice, not a virtue.

   Smoking was a vice Sally picked up in high school.

   More examples (3)

   Shepard: I wear a lot of hats, Mr. Vargas. Some days I shut down criminals. Some days I defuse nukes. Some days I like to enjoy private vices. You understand me?

   It's a rush you can't deny / A little violence is the ultimate drug / Let's get high / You've been powerless to your vices / Self-control defies you

   I should not be left to my own devices / they come with prices and vices / I end up in crisis / Tale as old as time

2. Any of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to weapons, prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

3. A defect in the temper or behaviour of a horse, such as to make the animal dangerous, to injure its health, or to diminish its usefulness.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   So a horse with say, navicular disease, making him suitable only for light hacking, would probably be unsound, whereas rearing would be a vice, being a "defect in the temper... making it dangerous". A vice can however render a horse unsound - possibly a crib biter will damage its wind.

Noun

1. A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements.

2. A winding or spiral staircase.

3. A grip or grasp.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   Fang. If I but fiſt him once: if he come but within my Vice.

Adjective

1. in place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rank

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   vice president

   vice admiral

Preposition

1. Instead of; in place of; versus.

   Usage

   • Dated

   Examples

   He was gardener and out-door man, vice Upton, resigned.

   A very small cab-boy, vice Stoopid retired, swung on behind Foker's vehicle; knock-kneed and in the tightest leather breeches.

Noun

1. One who acts in place of a superior.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   c. 1850s-1870s, Edward Minister and Son, The Gazette of Fashion and Cutting-Room Companion The health of the Vice was proposed in appropriate language; in replying, Mr. Marriott thanked the company […]

Noun

1. moral weakness

   Synonyms

   frailty

   Broader terms

   evilevilness

2. a specific form of evildoing

   Broader terms

   transgressionevildoing

   Examples

   vice offends the moral standards of the community

3. a holding device attached to a workbench; has two jaws to hold workpiece firmly in place

   Synonyms

   visebench vise

   Broader terms

   holding device