vein

noun

\ ˈvān

Definition of vein

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 leaf

b : 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 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)

5a : 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

6a : 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

vein

verb

veined; veining; veins

Definition of vein (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to pattern with or as if with veins

Other Words from vein Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about vein

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of vein in a Sentence

Noun

the author goes on in that sarcastic vein for pages

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Produced in the 1970s, the Tiger II was a low-cost multi-role jet in the same vein as today’s F-16. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Taiwan is Reverse-Engineering Fighter Jet Engines To Power a Cruise Missile," 3 Jan. 2019 In the same vein as more traditional art fairs like Art Basel, Superfine charges artists or gallerists a flat fee for exhibition space, though Superfine’s rates are much lower. — Gaby Del Valle, Vox, "Why is art so expensive?," 31 Oct. 2018 In the same vein as the show, Drake's music video ends with an explosion, a fight, and a fire. — Temi Adebowale, Seventeen, "These Are the Degrassi References You Missed in Drake's 'I'm Upset' Video," 14 June 2018 For weeks ahead of the meeting, Bolton set impossible targets for the summit and posited a scenario where Pyonygang swiftly dismantled its nuclear program in the same vein as the Libyan regime of despot Moammar Gaddafi in 2003. — Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, "Trump’s canceled North Korea summit sums up his chaotic foreign policy," 25 May 2018 The second period began in the same vein as the first with Sevilla on the front foot, and only a brilliant last-ditch tackle by Eric Bailly denied Correa a clear sight of goal. — Kieran Canning, chicagotribune.com, "Champions League heartache not new for United, insists Mourinho," 13 Mar. 2018 His tenor isn’t hefty, but its pointed, penetrating quality works just as well, even in this more heroic vein, and Mr. Nézet-Séguin made sure that the orchestra never drowned him out. — Heidi Waleson, WSJ, "‘La Traviata’ at the Met Review: Marvelous Musicality," 5 Dec. 2018 But research in this vein, exploring the effects of different kinds of interventions, could give important clues to how vaccine uptake could be improved in a wider range of population groups. — Cathleen O'grady, Ars Technica, "Cultural barriers still stand in the way of HPV vaccine uptake," 4 Nov. 2018 There was a lot more in this vein, but then Toula Lou, the couple’s daughter, who is 2 and a half, woke up from her nap ready for a snack. — New York Times, "Margaret Hoover and John Avlon on their Post-Partisan Marriage," 11 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Computer models predict more than 3 feet of rain in the eastern part of the state, a fertile low-lying plain veined by brackish rivers with a propensity for escaping their banks. — Michael Biesecker, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane could flood many waste sites, creating toxic brew," 11 Sep. 2018 Computer models predict more than 3 feet of rain in the eastern part of the state, a fertile low-lying plain veined by brackish rivers with a propensity for escaping their banks. — Michael Biesecker, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane could flood many waste sites, creating toxic brew," 11 Sep. 2018 Computer models predict more than 3 feet of rain in the eastern part of the state, a fertile low-lying plain veined by brackish rivers with a propensity for escaping their banks. — Michael Biesecker, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane could flood many waste sites, creating toxic brew," 11 Sep. 2018 Computer models predict more than 3 feet of rain in the eastern part of the state, a fertile low-lying plain veined by brackish rivers with a propensity for escaping their banks. — Michael Biesecker, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane could flood many waste sites, creating toxic brew," 11 Sep. 2018 Its detailed rendering of small, usually unpaved farm roads that vein the landscape proved invaluable. — Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, "A Getaway to the ‘Tuscany of America’," 27 July 2018 Computer models predict more than 3 feet of rain in the eastern part of the state, a fertile low-lying plain veined by brackish rivers with a propensity for escaping their banks. — Michael Biesecker, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane could flood many waste sites, creating toxic brew," 11 Sep. 2018 Computer models predict more than 3 feet of rain in the eastern part of the state, a fertile low-lying plain veined by brackish rivers with a propensity for escaping their banks. — Michael Biesecker, Fox News, "Hurricane could flood many waste sites, creating toxic brew," 12 Sep. 2018 Maddox said the plaster will once again be painted with veining that mimics stone, but in a lighter shade than the dark brown favored in the Victorian era. — Washington Post, "NYC’s historic Trinity Church to partially close for 2 years," 6 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vein.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for vein

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about vein

Dictionary Entries near vein

Statistics for vein

Last Updated

22 Jan 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for vein

The first known use of vein was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for vein

vein

noun

English Language Learners Definition of vein

: 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.

See the full definition for vein in the English Language Learners Dictionary

vein

noun

\ ˈvān

Kids Definition of vein

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

vein

noun

\ ˈvān

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