vascular
Americanadjective
adjective
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Relating to the vessels of the body, especially the arteries and veins, that carry blood and lymph.
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Relating to or having xylem and phloem, plant tissues highly specialized for carrying water, dissolved nutrients, and food from one part of a plant to another. Ferns and all seed-bearing plants have vascular tissues; bryophytes, such as mosses, do not.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vascular
From the New Latin word vāsculāris, dating back to 1665–75. See vasculum, -ar 1
Explanation
Use the adjective vascular when you're talking about blood vessels. One side effect of long-term smoking is vascular disease. The word vascular comes up in medicine and anatomy whenever there's discussion of the circulatory system, the series of vessels carrying blood around the body. Plants have vascular systems too, to carry water and nutrients throughout their systems. The word vascular comes from the Latin vascularis, "of or pertaining to vessels or tubes."
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.
Previous studies have shown that the compound can reduce the formation of atherosclerosis plaques and prevent vascular calcification in nonhuman primates, suggesting it could also become a treatment for cardiovascular disease.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
“If I was creating a report to send to another physician, I would have mentioned a little bit more about the carotid ultrasound,” said Dr. William Shutze, a Texas vascular surgeon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
A convicted NHS vascular surgeon who froze his own legs so they had to be removed has been struck off the medical register.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
Her husband Omar Al-Nouri, a vascular surgeon in the neighbouring city of La Jolla, received the same message and rushed down to the school.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
“This looks excellent, Jessica. Nice vascular flow, good color...you’re already healing beautifully.”
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
