Vault /(va̤lt; see Note, below)/

Vault

n.
  1. An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy. (Arch.)
    The long-drawn aisle and fretted vault.
  2. An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, used for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like; a cell; a cellar.
    The silent vaults of death.
    — Sandys.
    To banish rats that haunt our vault.
  3. The canopy of heaven; the sky.
    That heaven's vault should crack.
  4. A leap or bound. (Man.)

Phrases & Compounds
Barrel vault
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
See under 1st Cove, v. t.
Groined vault
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
See under Rampant.
Ribbed vault
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.

Vault

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Vaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaulting

  1. To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch; as, to vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court.
    The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley.
  2. 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).

Vault

v. i.
  1. To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.
    Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself.
    Leaning on his lance, he vaulted on a tree.
    Lucan vaulted upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth.
  2. To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble.