vet
pronunciation
How to pronounce vet in British English:
UK [vet]
How to pronounce vet in American English:
US [vet]
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- Noun:
- a doctor who practices veterinary medicine
- a person who has served in the armed forces
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- Verb:
- work as a veterinarian
- examine carefully
- provide (a person) with medical care
- provide veterinary care for
Word Origin
- vet
- vet: [19] Vet is short for veterinary surgeon. As a verb, it was originally used (in the 1890s) for ‘examine an animal medically’, but before the end of the 19th century this had broadened out to ‘investigate, screen’. Veterinary [18] itself came from Latin veterīnārius, a derivative of veterīnus ‘of cattle and similar domestic animals’.
- vet (n.1)
- 1862, shortened form of veterinarian.
- vet (v.)
- "to submit (an animal) to veterinary care," 1891, from veterinarian. The colloquial sense of "subject (something) to careful examination" (as of an animal by a veterinarian, especially of a horse before a race) is attested by 1901. Related: Vetted; vetting.
- vet (n.2)
- 1848, shortened form of veteran (n.).
Example
- 1. We need to take woofy to the vet .
- 2. The frail cat was taken to the vet for treatment .
- 3. A vet can provide medication for dogs that are extremely stressed when left alone .
- 4. The budget committee will vet the efsf 's new arrangements .
- 5. When our vet found him , he was roaming free with a wire collar embedded in his neck and a raging case of mange .