vein

[ veyn ]
See synonyms for: veinveinedveining on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. one of the system of branching vessels or tubes conveying blood from various parts of the body to the heart.

  2. (loosely) any blood vessel.

  1. one of the riblike thickenings that form the framework of the wing of an insect.

  2. one of the strands or bundles of vascular tissue forming the principal framework of a leaf.

  3. any body or stratum of ore, coal, etc., clearly separated or defined: a rich vein of coal.

  4. a body or mass of igneous rock, deposited mineral, or the like occupying a crevice or fissure in rock; lode.

  5. a natural channel or watercourse beneath the surface of the earth.

  6. the water running through such a channel.

  7. a streak or marking, as of a different shade or color, running through marble, wood, etc.

  8. a condition, mood, or temper: a vein of pessimism.

  9. a tendency, quality, or strain traceable in character, conduct, writing, etc.; manner or style: to write in a poetic vein.

verb (used with object)
  1. to furnish with veins.

  2. to mark with lines or streaks suggesting veins.

  1. to extend over or through in the manner of veins: Broad new highways vein the countryside.

Origin of vein

1
1250–1300; Middle English veine<Old French <Latin vēna vein of the body, channel, ore deposit

Other words for vein

Other words from vein

  • veinal, adjective
  • veinless, adjective
  • veinlike, adjective
  • in·ter·vein, verb (used with object)
  • in·ter·vein·al, adjective
  • subvein, noun
  • un·veined, adjective

Words that may be confused with vein

Words Nearby vein

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use vein in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vein

vein

/ (veɪn) /


noun
  1. any of the tubular vessels that convey oxygen-depleted blood to the heart: Compare pulmonary vein, artery Related adjective: venous

  2. any of the hollow branching tubes that form the supporting framework of an insect's wing

  1. any of the vascular strands of a leaf

  2. a clearly defined mass of ore, mineral, etc, filling a fault or fracture, often with a tabular or sheetlike shape

  3. an irregular streak of colour or alien substance in marble, wood, or other material

  4. a natural underground watercourse

  5. a crack or fissure

  6. a distinctive trait or quality in speech, writing, character, etc; strain: a vein of humour

  7. a temporary disposition, attitude, or temper; mood: the debate entered a frivolous vein

  8. Irish a parting in hair

verb(tr)
  1. to diffuse over or cause to diffuse over in streaked patterns

  2. to fill, furnish, or mark with or as if with veins

Origin of vein

1
C13: from Old French veine, from Latin vēna

Derived forms of vein

  • veinal, adjective
  • veinless, adjective
  • veinlike, adjective
  • veiny, adjective

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

Scientific definitions for vein

vein

[ vān ]


  1. Any of the blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart from the body's cells, tissues, and organs. Veins are thin-walled and contain valves that prevent the backflow of blood. All veins except the pulmonary vein carry blood with low levels of oxygen.

  2. One of the narrow, usually branching tubes or supporting parts forming the framework of an insect's wing or a leaf. Veins in insect wings carry hemolymph and contain a nerve. Veins in leaves contain vascular tissue, with the xylem usually occurring on the upper side of the vein (bringing in water and nutrients) and the phloem on the lower side (carrying away food). See more at leaf venation.

  1. A long, narrow deposit of mineral or rock that fills the void formed by a fracture or fault in another rock. The mineralogy of the host rock surrounding the vein is often altered where it is in contact with the vein because of chemical reactions between the two rock types.

Other words from vein

  • venous adjective (nəs)

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.