There is, in the USA, another definition, called "VFR over the top." There are many opinions about what it is and who may do it and when, but I've not been able to find it in the FAR/AIM (except in §135, which isn't relevant to us). When I've asked CFIIs about it, I've not got a straight answer.
If you want an opinion that it's OK to fly VFR over a solid cloud deck, provided you can get up (and down again) in VMC the whole way then try quoting
http://www.forpilots.com/archive/rec...1/msg11404.htm and don't blame me if it all goes sour!
There is a Canadian rating called a "VFR over the top" rating, which is a bit like a UK IMC rating - ie valid for a specific purpose and only in the country of issue. I don't know if the USA allows C-reg aircraft to use it in the US.