vent

¹

[vent]

noun

1. an opening, as in a wall, serving as an outlet for air, smoke, fumes, or the like.

2. an opening at the earth's surface from which volcanic material, as lava, steam, or gas, is emitted.

3. Zoology.,  the anal or excretory opening of animals, especially of those below mammals, as birds and reptiles.

4. the small opening at the breech of a gun by which fire is communicated to the charge.

5. a means of exit or escape; an outlet, as from confinement.

6. expression; utterance; release.

   to give vent to one's emotions.

7. Obsolete.,  the act or fact of venting; emission or discharge.

verb (used with object)

1. to give free play or expression to (an emotion, passion, etc.).

   to vent rage.

2. to give public utterance to.

   to vent one's opinions.

3. to relieve by giving expression to something.

   He vented his disappointment by criticizing his successor.

4. to release or discharge (liquid, smoke, etc.).

5. to furnish or provide with a vent or vents.

verb (used without object)

1. to be relieved of pressure or discharged by means of a vent.

2. (of an otter or other animal) to rise to the surface of the water to breathe.

vent

²

[vent]

noun

1. a slit in the back or side of a coat, jacket, or other garment, at the bottom part of a seam.

vent

¹

/ vɛnt /

noun

1. a small opening for the passage or escape of fumes, liquids, etc

2. the shaft of a volcano or an aperture in the earth's crust through which lava and gases erupt

3. the external opening of the urinary or genital systems of lower vertebrates

4. a small aperture at the breech of old guns through which the charge was ignited

5. an exit, escape, or passage

6. to release (an emotion, passion, idea, etc) in an utterance or outburst

verb

1. to release or give expression or utterance to (an emotion, idea, etc)

   he vents his anger on his wife

2. to provide a vent for or make vents in

3. to let out (steam, liquid, etc) through a vent

vent

²

/ vɛnt /

noun

1. a vertical slit at the back or both sides of a jacket

verb

1. (tr) to make a vent or vents in (a jacket)

Other Word Forms

• ventless adjective
• unvented adjective
• venter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb venten “to furnish (a vessel) with a vent,” by shortening of Old French esventer (equivalent to es- + -venter, verbal derivative of vent, from Latin ventus “wind”), in later use derivative of the English noun; the noun derives partly from French vent, partly by shortening of French évent ( Old French esvent, derivative of esventer ), and partly derivative of the English verb; ex- ¹, wind ¹

Origin of vent²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English vent(e); replacing Middle English fente, from Old French or Middle French, derivative of fendre “to slit,” from Latin findere “to split”

Word History and Origins

Origin of vent¹

C14: from Old French esventer to blow out, from _ex- ¹ + venter, from Vulgar Latin ventāre (unattested) to be windy, from Latin ventus wind

Origin of vent²

C15: from Old French fente slit, from fendre to split, from Latin findere to cleave

Idioms and Phrases

• give vent to

Example Sentences

A recent one consisted of a close-up of one of those vents above your airplane seat that regulates air circulation while the plane’s captain welcomes the viewer to “ICE Air” over the intercom.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On Facebook and elsewhere, buyers are venting about hundreds of dollars due on mouse pads, makeup and bridesmaid dresses.

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And in cooling - the car has noticeably fewer and smaller vents than others, a key advantage when every extra opening of the bodywork has a cost in aerodynamic efficiency.

Read more on BBC

Experts say the prospect of a union gives some gig workers their first-ever outlet to vent frustrations about workplace conditions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They called the gatherings “Wine Wednesdays,” a name that captured their imbibing and venting.

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Related Words

• chimney 
• duct 
• flue 
• pipe 
• ventilator