Main Entry:

ar·tery

Pronunciation:

\ˈär-tə-rē, ˈär-trē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural ar·ter·ies

Etymology:

Middle English arterie, from Latin arteria, from Greek artēria; akin to Greek aortē aorta

Date:

14th century

1: any of the tubular branching muscular- and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart through the body2: a channel (as a river or highway) of transportation or communication ; especially : the main channel in a branching system