vein

¹vein

noun \ˈvān\

Definition of VEIN

1

a : a narrow water channel in rock or earth or in ice

b (1) : lode 2 (2) : a bed of useful mineral matter

c : lode 3

2

: blood vessel; especially : any of the tubular branching vessels that carry blood from the capillaries toward the heart

3

a : any of the vascular bundles forming the framework of a leaf

b : any of the thickened cuticular ribs that serve to stiffen the wings of an insect

4

: something suggesting veins (as in reticulation); specifically : a wavy variegation (as in marble)

5

a : a distinctive mode of expression : style <stories in a romantic vein>

b : a distinctive element or quality : strain <introduced a welcome vein of humor>

c : a line of thought or action

6

a : a special aptitude <inherited an artistic vein>

b : a usually transitory and casually attained mood

c : top form <thou troublest me; I am not in the vein — Shakespeare>

— vein·al \ˈvā-n^əl\ adjective

Examples of VEIN

1. <the author goes on in that sarcastic vein for pages>

Origin of VEIN

Middle English veine, from Anglo-French, from Latin vena

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to VEIN

Synonyms

fashion, locution, manner, mode, phraseology, tone, style

Related Words

address, delivery, elocution; archaism, colloquialism, regionalism; acceptation, connotation, denotation, expression, idiom

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with VEIN

ain, Aisne, ane, Bain, bane, blain, brain, cane, chain, crane, deign, drain, fain, fane, feign, gain, grain, Kane, lane, Lane, main, mane, pain, Paine, pane, plain, plane, quean, rain, reign, rein, sain, sane, seine, Seine, skein, Spain, sprain, stain, strain, swain, thane, thegn, train, twain, Twain, vain, vane, wain, wane, Wayne

²vein

transitive verb

Definition of VEIN

: to pattern with or as if with veins

First Known Use of VEIN

1502

vein

noun \ˈvān\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of VEIN

: any of the tubular branching vessels that carry blood from the capillaries toward the heart and have thinner walls than the arteries and often valves at intervals to prevent reflux of the blood which flows in a steady stream and is in most cases dark-colored due to the presence of reduced hemoglobin

Illustration of VEIN

vein

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Vessel that carries blood to the heart. Except for the pulmonary veins, veins bear deoxygenated blood from capillaries, which converge into threadlike venules and then veins, finally emptying into the venae cavae (see cardiovascular system; vena cava). Blood moves through veins by contraction of the surrounding muscles. Backflow is prevented by valves in most veins' inner layer (tunica intima), which lacks the elastic membrane lining of arteries. The thin middle layer (tunica media) is mostly collagen fibres, and the thick outer layer (tunica adventitia) is mostly connective tissue. See also circulation; varicose vein.