a noun derived from a verb, such as smoking in the sentence smoking is bad for you
See also gerund
English Easy Learning GrammarVerbal nounsThe verbal noun is the -ing form, i.e. the present participle of the verb, used asa noun. It can be used in all the places that a noun can be used, but ... Read more
verbal noun in American English
Grammar
a noun or nominal derived from a verb and functioning in some respects like a verb: in English, it is either a noun ending in -ing (a gerund) or an infinitive (Ex.: walking is healthful, to err is human)