Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A veterinarian.
- v. To subject to veterinary evaluation, examination, medication, or surgery.
- v. To subject to thorough examination or evaluation: vet a manuscript.
- v. To engage in the practice of veterinary medicine.
- n. Informal A veteran.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. An abbreviation of veteran
- n. of veterinary.
- n. A colloquial contraction of veterinary (surgeon).
Wiktionary
- n. A veterinarian or veterinary surgeon.
- n. A veteran (a former soldier or other member of an armed forces).
- v. To thoroughly check or investigate particularly with regard to providing formal approval.
WordNet 3.0
- v. work as a veterinarian
- n. a doctor who practices veterinary medicine
- v. examine carefully
- n. a person who has served in the armed forces
- v. provide (a person) with medical care
- v. provide veterinary care for
Examples
“Other than his stance on neutering, our vet is a lovely old man who is a fantastic diagnostician.”
“Andrea "Andi" Pringle, and his nomination of Robert Mallett as chairman of the Board of Elections and Ethics - both of whom never served long enough to warm their assigned chairs she resigned; his nomination was withdrawn - that there's still some part of the word "vet" that Gray doesn't get.”
The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post
“A visit to a doggy dermatologist (referral from main vet) cost a friend of mine almost $1000 this past summer, and didn't do anything to solve the problem, despite three rounds of drugs and two biopsies.”
Health Care Policy for Pets, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty
“Our tour guide explained to them that my father was a vet from the war.”
“The network obliged and the acting vet is expected to appear on the program one final time sometime this spring.”
“My little bitty Boston terrier has racked up over $2,000 in vet bills when she fell off a counter a couple of weeks ago.”
“Our vet is an old "large animal" vet but he is the only one we have semi-close.”
“I was fortunate that my brother was in vet school at the time and was able to get me the pills for free.”
“Email a copy of 'His vet is Dr. Moreau.' to a friend”
“This venerable and much honored WW II vet is well known in Hawaii for his seventy-plus years of service to patriotic organizations and causes all over the country.”
A real American : I received this in an e-mail, tell me what you think.
slumry The colloquial sense of "subject to careful examination" comes from Kipling. Well, knock me over with a feather. Jul 11, 2007