vein

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noun \ˈvān\

Definition of vein

1 : blood vessel; especially : any of the tubular branching vessels that carry blood from the capillaries toward the heart
2a : any of the vascular bundles forming the framework of a leafb : any of the thickened cuticular ribs that serve to stiffen the wings of an insect
3a : a narrow water channel in rock or earth or in iceb (1) : lode 2 (2) : a bed of useful mineral matterc : lode 3
4 : something suggesting veins (as in reticulation); specifically : a wavy variegation (as in marble)
5a : a distinctive mode of expression : style stories in a romantic veinb : a distinctive element or quality : strain introduced a welcome vein of humorc : a line of thought or action
6a : a special aptitude inherited an artistic veinb : a usually transitory and casually attained moodc : top form thou troublest me; I am not in the vein — William Shakespeare

play \ˈvā-n^əl\ adjective

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

First Known Use: 14th century

verb

verbal derivative of ¹vein

First Known Use: 1502

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noun

: any one of the tubes that carry blood from parts of the body back to the heart
: any one of the thin lines that can be seen on the surface of a leaf or on the wing of an insect
: a long, narrow opening in rock filled with gold, silver, etc.

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noun \ˈvān\

1 : one of the blood vessels that carry the blood back to the heart
2 : a long narrow opening in rock filled with a specific mineral a vein of gold
3 : a streak of different color or texture (as in marble)
4 : a style of expression I continued in a more serious vein. — Gail Carson Levine, Ella Enchanted
5 : one of the bundles of fine tubes that make up the framework of a leaf and carry food, water, and nutrients in the plant
6 : one of the slender parts that stiffen and support the wing of an insect

\ˈvānd\ adjective

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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