vane

¹

[ veyn ]

noun

1. weather vane.
2. a blade, plate, sail, etc., in the wheel of a windmill, to be moved by the air.
3. any of a number of blades or plates attached radially to a rotating drum or cylinder, as in a turbine or pump, that move or are moved by a fluid, as steam, water, hot gases, or air.
4. a person who is readily changeable or fickle.
5. Aerospace.
   1. any fixed or movable plane surface on the outside of a rocket providing directional control while the rocket is within the atmosphere.
   2. a similar plane surface located in the exhaust jet of a reaction engine, providing directional control while the engine is firing.
6. Ornithology. the web of a feather.
7. Navigation, Surveying. either of two fixed projections for sighting an alidade or the like.
8. Archery. feather ( def 5 ).

Vane

²

[ veyn ]

noun

1. Sir Henry Sir Harry Vane, 1613–62, British statesman and author.

Vane

¹

/ veɪn /

noun

1. VaneSir Henry16131662MEnglishPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: colonial administrator Sir Henry, known as Sir Harry Vane. 1613–62, English Puritan statesman and colonial administrator; governor of Massachusetts (1636–37). He was executed for high treason after the Restoration

vane

²

/ veɪn /

noun

1. Also calledweather vanewind vane a flat plate or blade of metal mounted on a vertical axis in an exposed position to indicate wind direction
2. any one of the flat blades or sails forming part of the wheel of a windmill
3. any flat or shaped plate used to direct fluid flow, esp a stator blade in a turbine, etc
4. a fin or plate fitted to a projectile or missile to provide stabilization or guidance
5. ornithol the flat part of a feather, consisting of two rows of barbs on either side of the shaft
6. surveying
   1. a sight on a quadrant or compass
   2. the movable marker on a levelling staff

vane

/ vān /

1. The flattened, weblike part of a feather, consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the rachis.

Derived Forms

• ˈvaneless, adjective
• vaned, adjective

Other Words From

• vaned adjective
• vaneless adjective
• multi·vane adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vane¹

before 1100; Middle English; Old English fana flag; cognate with German Fahne flag, Gothic fana segment of cloth; gonfanon

Word History and Origins

Origin of vane¹

Old English fana; related to Old Saxon, Old High German fano, Old Norse fani, Latin pannus cloth

Example Sentences

But, I refuse to believe that all the hard work that those who have marched, spoken and fought for us to progress is in vane.

From Ozy

Danielle Pletka, head of foreign policy at the American Enterprise Institute, has called Romney a “weather vane.”

From The Daily Beast

Captain Vane came from the observatory, his face blazing with excitement and oily with heat, to announce the fact.

From Project Gutenberg

For the rooster who was always perched on the weather-vane on the barn was up so high and he shone like gold.

From Project Gutenberg

Oh seruant, vertue strengthen me.Thy presence blowes round my affections vane:You will vndoe me, if you speake againe.

From Project Gutenberg

The letter was written when Mr. Vane's interest in Parliament was very great.

From Project Gutenberg

Sydney Vane had been a popular man; he belonged to a well-known county family, and had left a widow and child.

From Project Gutenberg