vein

1 of 2

noun

ˈvān 

1

: blood vessel

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

2

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

3

a

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

b(1)

: lode sense 2

(2)

: a bed of useful mineral matter

c

: lode sense 3

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.

—William Shakespeare

veinal

ˈvā-nᵊl 

adjective

vein

2 of 2

verb

veined; veining; veins

transitive verb

: to pattern with or as if with veins

Synonyms of vein

Noun

• manner
• tone
• mode
• style

Examples of vein in a Sentence

Noun

the author goes on in that sarcastic vein for pages

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

If the team puts together another impressive performance against Australia on Friday, expect plenty of Americans who don't normally follow soccer all that closely to jump on the bandwagon and start feeling the patriotism flowing through their veins. —Jon Root, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026

The White House said swelling around the ankles was due to chronic venous insufficiency or CVI, which occurs when leg veins fail to send blood back to the heart properly, and the bruising on the back of his hand was caused by frequent handshaking and aspirin. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 12 June 2026

Verb

Soft lilac marble and delicate veining anchor this purple sanctuary by Ethan Charles Design. —Sophie Aliece Hollis, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026

This collection caught my eye for its book-match capable slabs, so that the veining flows across seams without interruption. —Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English veyne, borrowed from Anglo-French veine, going back to Latin vēna "blood vessel, channel," of obscure origin

Verb

verbal derivative of vein entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

1502, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vein

• brachiocephalic vein
• coronary vein
• innominate vein
• jugular vein
• milk vein
• portal vein
• pulmonary vein
• spider vein
• subclavian vein
• varicose vein

Rhymes for vein

• ane
• bane
• blain
• brain
• cane
• chaine
• cheyne
• deign
• drain
• fain
• fane
• feign

Kids Definition

vein

noun

ˈvān

1

: a long narrow opening in rock filled with mineral matter

a vein of gold

2

a

: one of the blood vessels that carry blood from the capillaries back to the heart

b

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

c

: one of the thickened ribs that stiffen the wings of an insect

3

: a wavy band or streak (as of a different color or texture)

a marble with greenish veins

4

: a style of expression

stories in a romantic vein

Medical Definition

vein

noun

ˈvān 

: 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