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artery

American  
[ahr-tuh-ree] / ˈɑr tə ri /

noun

arteries plural
  1. Anatomy. a blood vessel that conveys blood from the heart to any part of the body.

  2. a main channel or highway, especially of a connected system with many branches.


artery British  
/ ˈɑːtərɪ /

noun

  1. any of the tubular thick-walled muscular vessels that convey oxygenated blood from the heart to various parts of the body Compare pulmonary artery vein

  2. a major road or means of communication in any complex system

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

artery Scientific  
/ ärtə-rē /
  1. Any of the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's cells, tissues, and organs. Arteries are flexible, elastic tubes with muscular walls that expand and contract to pump blood through the body.


Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

Etymology

Origin of artery

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin artēria, from Greek artēría “windpipe, trachea, artery”; see aorta

Explanation

An artery is a major blood vessel that carries blood away from your heart. For a healthy heart, keep your arteries clean! The word artery comes from the Greek arteria, which means "windpipe." In ancient times, an artery was thought to be a kind of air duct, because after someone dies, their arteries are empty of blood. Today we know that arteries (and veins) perform a vital job, constantly moving blood around our bodies. Systems of rivers or roads with networks and branches that resemble the human circulatory system can also be called arteries.

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Vocabulary lists containing artery

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Here we go again,” said Jeran Artery, a former Wyoming Equality director who grew up in the town.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 18, 2024

Artery calcification is almost twice as common in night owls compared to early birds, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

From Science Daily • Dec. 21, 2023

The blockade of the route known as the Northern Artery by the protesters, using waves of rocks and other barriers to barricade the road, began last month after Sudan sharply raised electricity prices for farmers.

From Reuters • Feb. 10, 2022

After an acclaimed debut last spring, Ferver’s “Everything Is Imaginable” receives a weeklong encore, as part of both the American Realness festival and the Live Artery showcase.

From New York Times • Jan. 3, 2019

"Artery severed," he announced, and straightened up and looked about, at a loss.

From Alias the Lone Wolf by Vance, Louis Joseph

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