Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - very

~1 adv 1 + adj/adv used to emphasize an adj or adv or to add force to an expression  ("Can I help you with those bags?" "Thanks, that's very nice of you." | It feels very cold up in the bedrooms. | I feel a lot better today thanks very much. | We must be aware of the very real problems that these people face. | The traffic's moving very slowly this morning. | James was very much hoping you'd be able to come to the wedding. | the very same (=used to emphasize the fact that one thing is exactly the same as something else))  (She was wearing the very same shoes as me.) 2 + adj) used to emphasize superlative adjectives  (We only use the very best ingredients. | He might have told you he wasn't coming at the very least. | This is the very last time I lend you money.) 3 your very own used to emphasize the fact that something belongs to one particular person and to no one else  (She was thrilled at the idea of having her very own toys to play with.) 4 not very a) used before a quality to mean exactly the opposite of that quality  (The teacher wasn't very pleased (=was angry) when she saw a dead mouse on the desk.) b) only slightly  ("Was the play interesting?" "Not very.") ~2 adj only before noun used to emphasize a noun  (He died in this very room. | this very minute (=now))  (You'd better start doing some work this very minute. | the very thought (=just thinking about something))  (The very thought of food makes me feel ill. | the very idea! (=used to express shock at what someone says or suggests))  (Of course you shouldn't travel on your own at that time of night. The very idea! | the very thing (=used to describe an object or idea that is exactly right for a particular purpose))  (This gadget is the very thing for turning stiff taps.)