What does vire mean?
Vire is an uncommon English verb meaning to sprout or shoot, as when a seed or other plant sends up new growth. Its wording is old-fashioned and occasionally poetic, but it gives a vivid, concise way to describe vegetation beginning to grow. For example, seeds may “vire” after rain, or a cutting may begin to “vire” in fertile soil. The word can also occur in much older senses connected with turning or drawing, although these uses are no longer common in contemporary English. Today, its distinctive garden and natural-growth sense is the one most likely to be encountered in historical texts, poetry, or specialized vocabulary. The term comes through French from Latin, where related forms continue to influence words such as verdant, virile, and virtue.
To sprout or shoot, especially as a plant.
"The seedlings began to vire after several days of rain."
Chiefly literary, archaic, or poetic.
To turn or draw.
"The mechanism vires the cable toward the winch."
This sense is archaic and rarely encountered outside historical texts.
An old word for a green shoot, “vire” preserves an image of life pushing up from the soil.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vire
Vire entered English through Old French vire, a form associated with Latin virere, “to be green” or “to grow green.” The English sense developed around sprouting or shooting vegetation. Latin virere also lies behind a wider family including viridis, “green,” and through that source verdant, while virilis, “manly,” and virtus, “virtue” belong to a separate but etymologically related Latin root.
Related word forms
How vire is actually used
“Vire” is uncommon and belongs chiefly to archaic, poetic, or historical English. Its older sense of turning or drawing is now largely obsolete.
Easily confused with vire
“Vire” means to sprout or shoot, whereas “veer” means to turn or change direction abruptly.