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definitions

vent

1
[ vent ]
/ vɛnt /
|
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noun

verb (used with object)

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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. venous sinus of sclera,
  2. venous sphygmograph,
  3. venous star,
  4. venously,
  5. venovenostomy,
  6. vent gleet,
  7. vent one's spleen,
  8. vent pipe,
  9. vent window,
  10. ventage

Origin of vent

1
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

2
[ vent ]
/ vɛnt /

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

2
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

Examples from the Web for vent

British Dictionary definitions for vent

vent

1
/ (vɛnt) /

noun

verb (mainly tr)

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

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
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for vent

vent

[ vĕnt ]

n.

An opening into a cavity or canal, especially one through which contents are discharged.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for vent

vent

[ vĕnt ]

An opening, and the conduit leading to it, in the side or at the top of a volcano, permitting the escape of fumes, a liquid, a gas, or steam.
  1. The excretory opening of the digestive tract in animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Also called cloaca
  2. See cloaca.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with vent

vent

In addition to the idiom beginning with vent

  • vent one's spleen

also see:

  • give vent to
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.