blood vessel

American  

noun

• blood vessels
  plural

1. any of the vessels, as arteries, veins, or capillaries, through which the blood circulates.

---

blood vessel British  

noun

1. an artery, capillary, or vein

---

blood vessel Scientific  

1. An elastic tube or passage in the body through which blood circulates; an artery, a vein, or a capillary.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• blood vessels
  plural

Etymology

Origin of blood vessel

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blood vessel

When they did so, blood vessel formation declined substantially and the scaffold underwent less remodeling.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

Tonsianus Sambang was visiting his mother, being treated for a ruptured blood vessel in her brain, when the quake struck.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

These antioxidants, found in certain foods, can support heart health, circulation and blood vessel elasticity by reducing inflammation, it says.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

At first, doctors were worried cabin pressure could cause a blood vessel to burst, but have now given Olivia clearance to fly home.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026

He winced when Thyon jabbed in his needle, and winced again, because the alchemist missed the spirit vein and hit a blood vessel instead.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• artery
• capillary
• vein