transcription, транскрипция: [ veɪn ]
( vainer, vainest)
1.
A vain attempt or action is one that fails to achieve what was intended.
The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule...
= fruitless
ADJ : ADJ n
• vain‧ly
He hunted vainly through his pockets for a piece of paper.
ADV : ADV with v
2.
If you describe a hope that something will happen as a vain hope, you mean that there is no chance of it happening.
He married his fourth wife, Susan, in the vain hope that she would improve his health.
ADJ : ADJ n
• vain‧ly
He then set out for Virginia for what he vainly hoped would be a peaceful retirement.
ADV : ADV with v
3.
If you describe someone as vain , you are critical of their extreme pride in their own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities.
I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy.
ADJ [ disapproval ]
4.
If you do something in vain , you do not succeed in achieving what you intend.
He stopped at the door, waiting in vain for her to acknowledge his presence...
PHRASE : PHR after v , v-link PHR
5.
If you say that something such as someone’s death, suffering, or effort was in vain , you mean that it was useless because it did not achieve anything.
He wants the world to know his son did not die in vain.
PHRASE : PHR after v , v-link PHR