vent

[ vent ]

/ vɛnt /

See synonyms for: vent / vented / venting on Thesaurus.com

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.

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of vent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb venten “to furnish (a vessel) with a vent,” by shortening of Old French esventer (equivalent to es- + -venter, verbal derivative of vent, from Latin ventus “wind”), in later use derivative of the English noun; noun partly from French vent, partly by shortening of French évent (Old French esvent, derivative of esventer ), and partly derivative of the English verb; see ex-¹, wind¹

OTHER WORDS FROM vent

ventless, adjectiveun·vent·ed, adjective

Words nearby vent

venous sinus, venous sinus of sclera, venous sphygmograph, venous star, venovenostomy, vent, ventage, ventail, Ventana Cave, venter, vent gleet

Definition for vent (2 of 2)

vent²

[ 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

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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for vent

At the bottom of this ocean world it is conceivable that we might find hydrothermal vents and ocean floor volcanoes.
The Four Most Promising Worlds for Alien Life in the Solar System|Gareth Dorrian|September 24, 2020|Singularity Hub
Other scientists, however, place the starting point for Earth’s life underwater, at the deep hydrothermal vents where heated, mineral-rich water billows from cracks in the ocean floor.
Life on Earth may have begun in hostile hot springs|Jack J. Lee|September 24, 2020|Science News
There are numerous alternative hypotheses for where life began, beyond terrestrial hot springs and deep-sea vents.
Life on Earth may have begun in hostile hot springs|Jack J. Lee|September 24, 2020|Science News
It’s likely home to a subsurface ocean of liquid water, kept warm through tidal forces, and although Europa would still be a very extreme world, it could host life in the same ways as hydrothermal vents deep in Earth’s oceans.
The 5 best places to explore in the solar system—besides Mars|Neel Patel|August 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review

That creates steam that quickly rises and spews through the vent.
Let’s learn about geysers and hydrothermal vents|Sarah Zielinski|April 8, 2020|Science News For Students
But now everything was a good pretext to vent the rebellious mood.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution|Michael Zantovsky|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
British model takes to Twitter to vent frustrations with aggressive photographers.
Cara Delevingne: "Paparazzi Act Like Assassins"|Tom Sykes|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
The morose are bitterly dissatisfied with the world in general, and disposed to vent their ill nature upon others.
English Synonyms and Antonyms|James Champlin Fernald
Plug up the throat and vent of shot birds with cotton, and thrust each bird head downward into a cornucopia of paper.
Elementary Zoology, Second Edition|Vernon L. Kellogg
Skipper Simms kept the men busy painting and holystoning as a vent for their pent emotions.
The Mucker|Edgar Rice Burroughs
A vent of frank French distaste for the German type of book.
French Classics|William Cleaver Wilkinson
This vent must have a diameter at least equal to the inlet pipe of the holder.
Acetylene, The Principles Of Its Generation And Use|F. H. Leeds

British Dictionary definitions for vent (1 of 2)

vent¹

/ (vɛnt) /

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 forms of vent

venter, 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

British Dictionary definitions for vent (2 of 2)

vent²

/ (vɛnt) /

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

Medical definitions for vent

vent

[ vĕnt ]

n.

An opening into a cavity or canal, especially one through which contents are discharged.

Scientific 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.

The excretory opening of the digestive tract in animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Also called cloaca
See cloaca.

Idioms and Phrases with vent

vent

In addition to the idiom beginning with vent

vent one's spleen

also see:

give vent to

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vent