vat

1 of 3

noun

1
: a large vessel (such as a cistern, tub, or barrel) especially for holding liquors in an immature state or preparations for dyeing or tanning
2
: a liquor containing a dye converted into a soluble reduced colorless or weakly colored form that on textile material steeped in the liquor and exposed to the air is converted by oxidation to the original insoluble dye and precipitated in the fiber

vat

2 of 3

verb

vatted; vatting

transitive verb

: to put into or treat in a vat

VAT

3 of 3

abbreviation

value-added tax

Examples of vat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
When speed and/or fine detailing are particularly important, however, a process called vat photopolymerization (VP) may be used instead. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 4 June 2025 Evidence of ancient technologies to produce vintages between the third and first centuries BCE include a stone wine vat with a textured bottom for grape pressing—excavated in the village of Khynysly in the Shamakhi district, hours west of Baku City. Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
On the warehouse side the rum is emptied from the casks, vatted, and made ready for bottling. Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 Recreating 19th-century vatting techniques, navigating the intricacies of French customs regulations and ensuring the rum maintained its historical integrity were all hurdles that Gabriel and his team had to overcome. Rachel King, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for vat

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vet, vat, southern variant of fat, fet, going back to Old English fæt, going back to Germanic *fata- (whence Old Saxon fat "vessel," Old High German faz); akin to Lithuanian púodas "pot"

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vat was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vat. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

vat

noun
ˈvat
: a large container (as a tub) especially for holding liquids in manufacturing processes

Legal Definition

VAT

noun
ˌvē-ˌā-ˈtē

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