v. vom·it·ed, vom·it·ing, vom·its v.intr. 1. To eject part or all of the contents of the stomach through the mouth, usually in a series of involuntary spasmic movements. 2. To be discharged forcefully and abundantly; spew or gush: The dike burst, and the floodwaters vomited forth. v.tr. 1. To eject (contents of the stomach) through the mouth. 2. To eject or discharge in a gush; spew out: The volcano vomited lava and ash. n. 1. The act or an instance of ejecting matter from the stomach through the mouth. 2. Matter ejected from the stomach through the mouth. 3. An emetic. [Middle English vomiten, from Latin vomitāre, frequentative of vomere; see wemə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] vomit·er n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.