a collarless men's undergarment for the upper part of the body
"He pulled his white vest over his shirt to get ready for work."
A loose robe or outer garment worn historically by men in Arab or Middle Eastern countries.
"The traveler wrapped himself in a traditional white vest as he walked through the bustling marketplace."
In plain English: A vest is an outer garment that covers your upper body but has no sleeves and usually hangs over other clothes.
"He wore his red vest over the white shirt to stay warm in the spring breeze."
Usage: The noun "vest" refers specifically to the sleeveless undergarment worn over a shirt but beneath a jacket, distinct from its verb form meaning to clothe someone. Do not confuse this everyday clothing item with historical robes or outer garments of other cultures that may share similar names in different languages.
place (authority, property, or rights) in the control of a person or group of persons
"She vested her vast fortune in her two sons"
clothe oneself in ecclesiastical garments
"The deacon vested himself before ascending the altar to lead the morning service."
To clothe with, or as with, a vestment, or garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely.
"The ancient ritual required the priest to be vested in golden robes and intricate jewelry before entering the sacred chamber."
In plain English: To vest something means to give someone official authority, power, or ownership over it.
"He decided to vest his shares in the company before leaving."
A surname.
"My uncle James Vest moved to Seattle last year after building a successful tech company under his family name."
The word "vest" comes from the French veste, which originally meant a jacket or garment before entering English to refer specifically to sleeveless undergarments. Its roots trace back to Latin vestis ("clothing") and ultimately to an ancient Indo-European root meaning "to be dressed."