I. ve ‧ to 1 /ˈviːtəʊ $ -toʊ/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle vetoed , present participle vetoing , third person singular vetoes ) [transitive]
1 . if someone in authority vetoes something, they refuse to allow it to happen, especially something that other people or organizations have agreed
veto legislation/a measure/a proposal etc
President Bush vetoed the bill on July 6.
2 . to refuse to accept a particular plan or suggestion:
Jenny wanted to invite all her friends, but I quickly vetoed that idea.
II. veto 2 BrE AmE noun ( plural vetoes ) [uncountable and countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: 'I refuse to allow' , from vetare 'to forbid' ]
a refusal to give official permission for something, or the right to refuse to give such permission
veto on
de Gaulle’s veto on the British application to join the EEC
veto over
The head teacher has the right of veto over management-board decisions.
veto of
Washington’s veto of Seoul’s nuclear ambitions
The Senate had a sufficient majority to override the presidential veto (=not accept his refusal) .
exercise/use your veto