Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.1.1 Homophones 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Antonyms 1.2.1.2 Related terms 1.2.1.3 Translations 1.2.2 See also 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Translations

[ English

[ Pronunciation

• IPA: /vaɪs/ (UK, US)
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -aɪs

[ Homophones

• vise

[ Etymology 1

From Latin vitium (“‘fault or blemish’”).

[ Noun

Singular vice

Plural vices

vice (plural vices)

1. A bad habit.

   Smoking is a vice, not a virtue.

2. (law) prostitution

   The Vice Squad is active tonight.

[ Antonyms

• (bad habit): virtue

[ Related terms

• vicious
• vitiate

[ Translations

bad habit

Czech: zlozvyk m., neřest f. Danish: last, dårlig vane Finnish: pahe

German: Laster n.; Lasterhaftigkeit f. Spanish: vicio m.

legal term for prostitution

Finnish: seksikauppa

[ See also

• habit

[ Etymology 2

From French vis (“‘screw, winding stairs’”), from Old French vis, viz, from Latin vitis (“‘vine’”); probably akin to English withy.

[ Noun

Singular vice

Plural vices

vice (plural vices)

1. A mechanical screw apparatus used for clamping or holding (also spelled vise).

[ Translations

screw apparatus

Finnish: ruuvipuristin German: Schraubstock m.

Spanish: torno de banco m.