From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_756_zvacationva‧ca‧tion1 /vəˈkeɪʃən $ veɪ-/ ●●● S2 W3 noun 1 [countable, uncountable] especially American EnglishDL a holiday, or time spent not working We’re planning a vacation in Europe.on vacation He’s on vacation this week. We’re planning to go on vacation soon.2 [uncountable] especially American English the number of days, weeks etc that you are allowed as paid holiday by your employer How much vacation do you get at your new job? I think I have four vacation days left. Employees are entitled to four weeks’ paid vacation annually.3 SEC a) [countable] British English one of the periods of time when a university is closedthe Christmas/Easter/summer/long vacation b) [countable, uncountable] American English one of the periods of time when a school or university is closedChristmas/spring/summer vacationTHESAURUSvacation especially American English, holiday especially British English time you spend away from school or workAre you taking a vacation this summer?We met on holiday in Cyprus.What are you doing in the school holidays?holiday a day that is set by law, when no one has to go to work or schoolthe Thanksgiving holidayNew Year’s Day is a national holiday.In 2002, there was an extra public holiday to mark the Queen’s golden jubilee.the August bank holiday (=day when all the banks and shops are closed – used in British English)break a time when you stop working or studying in order to rest, or a short vacation from schoola ten-minute coffee breakLots of college kids come to the beaches during the spring break.leave a time when you are allowed not to workWe get four weeks’ annual leave (=paid time off work each year).He has been taking a lot of sick leave (=time off work because you are ill) recently.Angela is on maternity leave (= time off work when having a baby).He was given compassionate leave (=time off work because someone close to you has died, is very ill etc) to go to his father’s funeral.sabbatical [usually singular] a period when someone, especially a teacher, stops doing their usual work in order to study or travelShe was on sabbatical for six months.I’m thinking of taking a sabbatical.furlough a period of time when a soldier or someone working in another country can return to their own country as a holidayWhile on furlough, he and his girlfriend got married.R & R (rest and relaxation) a holiday, especially one given to people in the army, navy etc after a long period of hard work or during a warSoldiers in Vietnam were taken to Hawaii for R & R. COLLOCATIONSverbstake/have a vacationWe usually take a vacation once a year.go on vacationI’m going on vacation next month. need a vacationYou’re working too hard. You need a vacation.spend a vacationWhere did you spend your vacation?ADJECTIVES/NOUN + vacationa summer vacationWhat did you do on your summer vacation?a family vacationWe had to cancel the family vacation.a long vacationShe decided to take a long vacation.a short vacationa short vacation at the beacha two-week/three-day etc vacationvacation + NOUNa vacation spot (=a place for a vacation)The island is my favorite vacation spot.a vacation day (=a day away from work on vacation)You could take a sick day or a vacation day.vacation plans (=an idea about what you want to do on your vacation)Do you have any vacation plans this summer?COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘have vacation’. Say be on vacation.
Examples from the Corpus
vacation• The company allows us 14 vacation days a year.• These governed other activities on behalf of the workers - such as cafeteria, warehousing, kindergarten and vacation facilities.• I spent part of my Christmas vacation with my dad's family.• He worked at the resort during his college vacations.• The problem is that the companies' vacation policies differ and I need to know which one applies.• Adam could have it for his long vacation.• All the tricks I knew were away on vacation.• Co-workers told police that she was on vacation and probably heading to the state of Sinaloa.• The skating rink will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during summer vacation.• Under the new plan, students will have shorter summer vacations and longer winter vacations.• Only the affluent could afford to take vacations or to travel abroad because holidays with pay were not mandatory in the 1920s.• The vacation hardship allowance was almost unheard of and was not being demanded.• The vacation time you accumulated with your previous employer has to be honored, usually by that employer.• I want you to write about your vacation.paid vacation• Contractors are not entitled to paid vacation time.• Am I willing to give up paid vacations... any vacations?vacationvacation2 verb [intransitive] American English DLTto go somewhere for a holidayvacation in/at The Bernsteins are vacationing in Europe.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
vacation• She spent several weeks vacationing at a camp on Lake Michigan with a girl named Sarah.• Crew members said they were struck by how laid back and chatty the vacationing Clintons were.vacation in/at• He and Koester first saw Tombstone on Christmas vacation in 1988.• She spent several weeks vacationing at a camp on Lake Michigan with a girl named Sarah.• I needed this vacation in a major way.• The two met while vacationing in Hawaii.• Drinkwater is vacationing in London, apparently unaware of the controversy.• Imagine that you and your friends are on vacation at one of these lakes.From Longman Business Dictionaryvacationva‧ca‧tion /vəˈkeɪʃənveɪ-/ noun [countable]1American EnglishTRAVEL a period of time when people are on holiday or not workingMost factories close for a few weeks in the summer for vacations and plant maintenance.Mr Williams wason vacation and couldn’t be reached.2a period of time when universities and certain law courts or other organizations are closedThe process may take longer if the timetable is interrupted by a court vacation.Origin vacation1 (1300-1400) Old French Latin vacatio “freedom”, from vacare; → VACANT 