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value (n) – In art, the relative darkness or lightness of a color

Van Doren bottle (n) – A specialized bottle which allows water samples to be made at depth without tainting; the bottle’s hollow tube is lowered into the water to a specific depth (marked on the rope attached to it), then a catch is released so that stoppers close off the ends of the tube, enabling the water sample within to be raised back to the surface without tainting

variable (n) – A quantity that varies

variation (n) – At any given location on a land or sea, the angle of difference (in degrees) between magnetic and true north

vector (n) – (Genetics) An agent that transfers genetic material from one location to another

vegan (n) – A vegetarian who eats no animal products (including milk, eggs, etc.)

Vegemite (n) – A yeast extract, often associated with Australians, that is used as a spread on toast or as an ingredient in recipes; it is high in Vitamin B

vegetation (n) – Plant life

velocity (n) – Speed, swiftness of motion

venom (n) – Poison that a snake injects into its prey to stun or kill it

venomous (adj) – Poisonous; having a venom-producing gland and being able to inflict a poisonous wound

ventral fin (n) – A fin located on the lower, or belly, side of a fish or other marine organism

verge (n) – Edge, brink, or margin

vertebrae (n) – The single bones or segments of the spinal column

vertebrate (n) – An animal with a backbone

vertex (n) – The point of intersection of two sides of an angle

Very High Frequency (VHF) radio (n) – A common type of marine communications radio which uses Very High Frequency radio waves, the range of which is usually limited to line of sight between the transmitting and receiving stations

veterinarian (n) – A doctor who deals in the care of animals

veterinary medicine (n) – The branch of medical science that deals with caring for the health of animals

viability (n) – Capability of living, developing or germinating under favorable conditions

viable (adj) – Able to survive

vial (n) – A small bottle, usually of glass

vigil (n) – The act of keeping watch over something

vigilance (n) – Watchfulness

vigor (n) – Active healthy well-balanced growth especially of plants

Viking (n) – Any of the Scandinavian sea rovers and raiders who ravaged the coasts of Europe from the 8th to 10th centuries

viscous (adj) – Having a sticky, thick, yet fluid consistency

vise (n) – A bench-mounted clamping device, usually consisting of two jaws that are opened and closed by a screw-like device

Vistadome (n) – On the sailboat Great American II, the clear dome above the wheelhouse that enables captain and crew to see ahead, behind and to the sides of the boat without exposure to the elements; the boat can be steered from this location

Vodou (n) – see Voodoo

volt (n) – A unit of electrical force

Voodoo (n) – A West Indian religion made up of a combination of African religions and Catholicism; its ceremonies center on rituals developed to please the Iwa (spirits)

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