vice
Translation
vice, fault, bad habit, clamp
Examples
Greed is considered a major vice.
Greed is considered a major vice.
My only vice is eating too much chocolate.
My only vice is eating too much chocolate.
He clamped the wood in a vice.
He clamped the wood in a vice.
Grammar Patterns
((a/the)) vice ((of -ing)) an immoral or wicked habit The vice of gambling is hard to overcome.
((sb.'s)) only vice sb.'s only bad habit My only vice is drinking coffee.
((in)) a vice in a clamping tool He held the board in a vice.
Similar Words
Synonyms: sin, wickedness, fault; Antonyms: virtue
Etymology
From Latin 'vitium' meaning 'fault, defect'. The tool sense (spelled 'vise' in US) has a different origin, from Latin 'vitis' (vine), via French 'vis' (screw).
Memory Tips
Remember that 'vice' is the opposite of 'virtue'. For the tool, imagine it gripping something with a vicious hold.