Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • interjection Used to express acclamation, salute, or applause.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • An Italian exclamation corresponding to the French vive, ‘long live.’ Often used substantively: as, the vivas of the crowd.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • interjection Lit., (long) live; -- an exclamation expressing good will, well wishing, etc.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • interjection Long live ... ! (used to express acclaim or support).
  • verb transitive, intransitive, dated To cheer or applaud.
  • noun An oral examination, typically for an academic qualification.
  • verb transitive To subject to an examination of this kind.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an examination conducted by spoken communication

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Italian and Spanish, (long) live, both from Latin vīvat, third person sing. present subjunctive of vīvere, to live; see gwei- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Italian

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Shortened from viva voce, Latin for “live voice”

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Examples

  • It ain't perfect, but its getting there. viva aka python for ever: brilliant. now the db is sqlite. still not the format i had dreamed of though.

    The Portable Freeware Collection 2010

  • XavierHaruhist: ty! works great however it only searches for one word, so what if i want like a song name that is 3 words- let's say i type in "search viva la vida" it'll open up everything with the search query of only "viva" , how can i make it to search all i type?

    Integrate Everything Search Tool And Launchy | Lifehacker Australia 2009

  • The packed court erupted in cries of "viva" as Mofokeng supporters rejoiced after the magistrate announced his verdict.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • However, the somewhat sullen crowd, who had just had their electricity cut by the local council, was won over by Sexwale, whose speech had them laughing and shouting "viva".

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • However, the somewhat sullen crowd, who had just had their electricity cut by the local council, was won over by Sexwale, whose speech had them laughing and shouting "viva".

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • When he climbed on one of the machines afterwards, the workers applauded joyfully and many shouted "viva".

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1996

  • ANC MPs and Senators cheered and shouted "viva" as Speaker Dr

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • Khayelitsha Sister Monica Siyolo, who read out the memorandum, was greeted with shouts of "viva" when she described the five per cent increase offered to nurses as an insult.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • White farmers and their labour force have gathered in community halls or, in this case a huge potato packing shed, and much "viva" and "long Live" calls were directed at the NP and the person of the

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1994

  • Anyone shouting "viva" a few years ago was likely to become the object of intense Security Police scrutiny.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1994

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