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 body
2 : a channel (as a river or highway) of transportation or communication; especially : the main channel in a branching system