vent

[vent]

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noun

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

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

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

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

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

expression; utterance; release: to give vent to one's emotions.

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

verb (used with object)

to give free play or expression to (an emotion, passion, etc.): to vent rage.

to give public utterance to: to vent one's opinions.

to relieve by giving expression to something: He vented his disappointment by criticizing his successor.

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

to furnish or provide with a vent or vents.

verb (used without object)

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

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

Origin of vent

1350–1400; (v.) Middle English venten to furnish (a vessel) with a vent, by aphesis < Old French esventer (es- ex¹ + -venter, verbal derivative of vent < Latin ventus wind¹), in later use derivative of the E noun; (noun) partly < French vent (< Latin ventus), partly by aphesis < French évent (Old French esvent, derivative of esventer), partly derivative of the E v.

Related formsvent·less, adjectiveun·vent·ed, adjective

vent

[vent]

noun

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

Origin of vent

1400–50; late Middle English vente; replacing Middle English fente < Middle French, derivative of fendre to slit < Latin findere to split

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for vent

duct, pipe, flue, chimney, ventilator, utter, ventilate, emit, unleash, orifice, drain, opening, spout, exit, split, aperture, hole, avenue, voice, give

Examples from the Web for vent

Contemporary Examples of vent

But now everything was a good pretext to vent the rebellious mood.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution
Michael Zantovsky
December 6, 2014
Brown, meanwhile, took to Twitter to vent his frustration over the incident: And trouble seems to follow Knight wherever he goes.
New Details Emerge in Suge Knight Shooting at Chris Brown's Pre-VMAs Party on the Sunset Strip
Marlow Stern
August 25, 2014
In the midst of riots in Ferguson, Missouri, some residents took to secret-sharing app Whisper to vent.
Embarrassment, Fear, and Anger: Ferguson's Emotional Whispers
Melissa Leon
August 14, 2014
British model takes to Twitter to vent frustrations with aggressive photographers.
Cara Delevingne: "Paparazzi Act Like Assassins"
Tom Sykes
April 2, 2014
Droves of attendees streamed inside to vent their emotions over the course of several days.
David Best Creates a Temple Made of Memories Outside San Francisco
Debra A. Klein
February 14, 2014

Historical Examples of vent

In the burst of merriment, his pent feelings found their vent.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
He suddenly realized the necessity of a vent for his feelings.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
In what form of expression his feelings would have found a vent, it is impossible to say.
Barnaby Rudge
Charles Dickens
In two or three days put a bottle of brandy to every four gallons, bung it close, but leave the vent peg out a few days.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
It may well be that he must vent the thing that oppressed him or be driven mad by it.
Captain Blood
Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for vent

vent

noun

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

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

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

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

an exit, escape, or passage

give vent to to release (an emotion, passion, idea, etc) in an utterance or outburst

verb (mainly tr)

to release or give expression or utterance to (an emotion, idea, etc)he vents his anger on his wife

to provide a vent for or make vents in

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

Derived Formsventer, nounventless, adjective

Word Origin for vent

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

vent

noun

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

verb

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

Word Origin for vent

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

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

Word Origin and History for vent

late 14c., "emit from a confined space," probably a shortening of Old French eventer "let out, expose to air," from Vulgar Latin *exventare, from Latin ex- "out" + ventus "wind" (see wind (n.1)). Sense of "express freely" first recorded 1590s. Sense of "divulge, publish" (1590s) is behind phrase vent one's spleen (see spleen). Related: Vented; venting.