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4/15/23, 5:22 AM Vein - definition of vein by The Free Dictionary

Vein - definition of vein by The Free Dictionary


https://www.thefreedictionary.com/vein

vein
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to vein: varicose vein, portal vein

vein
blood vessel; a natural channel; a body or stratum of ore: a rich vein of coal; a condition, mood, or temper: a vein of
sadness; tone; touch; thread; streak
Not to be confused with:
vain – excessively proud of one’s appearance, qualities, etc.; conceited: She is very vain about her long black hair.;
arrogant; egotistical; without effect or avail: Her efforts were in vain.; worthless; unimportant
vane – blade in a wheel moved by air, steam, or water: A weather vane shows the direction of the wind.; someone who
is changeable or fickle

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

vein  (vān)
n.
1.
a. Anatomy Any of the membranous tubes that form a branching system and carry blood to the heart from the
cells, tissues, and organs of the body.
b. A blood vessel of any kind; a vein or artery: felt the blood pounding in her veins.
c. Something that looks like a blood vessel, such as the hindgut of a shrimp.
2. Botany One of the strands of vascular tissue that form the conducting and supporting framework in a leaf or other
expanded plant organ. Also called nervure.
3. Zoology One of the thickened cuticular ribs that form the supporting network of the wing of an insect and that often
carry hemolymph. Also called nervure.
4. Geology A regularly shaped and lengthy occurrence of an ore; a lode.
5. A long wavy strip of a different shade or color, as in wood or marble, or as mold in cheese.
6. A fissure, crack, or cleft.
7. A pervading character or quality; a streak: "All through the interminable narrative there ran a vein of impressive
earnestness" (Mark Twain).
8.
a. A transient attitude or mood.
b. A particular turn of mind: spoke later in a more serious vein.
tr.v. veined, vein·ing, veins
1. To supply or fill with veins.
2. To mark or decorate with veins.

[Middle English veine, from Old French, from Latin vēna.]

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/vein 1/8
4/15/23, 5:22 AM Vein - definition of vein by The Free Dictionary

vein′al adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

vein (veɪn)
n
1. (Anatomy) any of the tubular vessels that convey oxygen-depleted blood to the heart. Compare pulmonary vein,
artery
2. (Zoology) any of the hollow branching tubes that form the supporting framework of an insect's wing
3. (Botany) any of the vascular strands of a leaf
4. (Geological Science) a clearly defined mass of ore, mineral, etc, filling a fault or fracture, often with a tabular or
sheetlike shape
5. an irregular streak of colour or alien substance in marble, wood, or other material
6. (Physical Geography) a natural underground watercourse
7. a crack or fissure
8. a distinctive trait or quality in speech, writing, character, etc; strain: a vein of humour.
9. a temporary disposition, attitude, or temper; mood: the debate entered a frivolous vein.
10. (Hairdressing & Grooming) Irish a parting in hair
vb (tr)
11. to diffuse over or cause to diffuse over in streaked patterns
12. to fill, furnish, or mark with or as if with veins

[C13: from Old French veine, from Latin vēna]

ˈveinal adj
ˈveinless adj
ˈveinˌlike adj
ˈveiny adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007,
2009, 2011, 2014

vein (veɪn)

n.
1. one of the system of branching vessels or tubes conveying blood from various parts of the body to the heart.
2. (loosely) any blood vessel.
3. one of the riblike thickenings that form the framework of the wing of an insect.
4. one of the strands or bundles of vascular tissue forming the principal framework of a leaf.
5.
a. a body or mass of mineral deposit, igneous rock, or the like occupying a crevice or fissure in rock; lode.
b. any body or stratum of ore, coal, etc., clearly separated or defined.
6. a streak or marking, as of a different color, running through marble, wood, etc.
7. a temporary attitude, mood, or temper: spoke in a serious vein.
8. a tendency, quality, or strain traceable in conduct, writing, etc.: a vein of pessimism.
v.t.
9. to furnish with veins.
10. to mark with lines or streaks suggesting veins.
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4/15/23, 5:22 AM Vein - definition of vein by The Free Dictionary

11. to extend over or through in the manner of veins.

[1250–1300; < Old French < Latin vēna vein of the body, channel, ore deposit]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights
reserved.

vein (vān)
1. Any of the blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. Veins are thin-walled and contain valves that prevent the
backflow of blood. All veins except the pulmonary vein (which returns to the heart from the lungs) carry blood having low
levels of oxygen.
2. One of the narrow, usually branching tubes or supporting parts forming the framework of a leaf or an insect's wing.
See more at leaf.
3. A long, narrow deposit of mineral or rock found in another type of rock. Veins usually form when magma fills a fracture
in a rock.

venous (vē′nəs) adjective

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

vein
Past participle: veined
Gerund: veining

Imperative

Imperative
vein

vein

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

vein
1. A crack in rock containing a mineral deposit.
2. A blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart.
3. A blood vessel that transports blood from capillaries back to the heart.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Thesaurus Legend: ≡ Synonyms ↔ Related Words ≠ Antonyms

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun 1. vein - a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart; "all veins except the pulmonary vein
carry unaerated blood"
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4/15/23, 5:22 AM Vein - definition of vein by The Free Dictionary

≡ vena, venous blood vessel


↔ accessory cephalic vein, vena cephalica accessoria - a vein that passes along the
radial edge of the forearm and joins the cephalic vein near the elbow

↔ accessory hemiazygos vein, accessory hemiazygous vein, vena hemiazygos


accessoria - a vein formed by the union of the 4th to 7th posterior intercostal veins; empties into the azygos vein

↔ accessory vertebral vein, vena vertebralis accessoria - a vein that accompanies the vertebral vein but
passes through the foramen of the transverse process of the 7th cervical vertebra and empties into the
brachiocephalic vein
↔ accompanying vein, vena comitans - a vein accompanying another structure; a vein may accompany an artery
in such a way that the arterial pulses aid venous return
↔ anastomotic vein, vena anastomotica - either of two communicating veins serving the brain
↔ angular vein, vena angularis - a short vein formed by the supraorbital vein and the supratrochlear vein and
continuing as the facial vein

↔ anterior vertebral vein, vena vertebralis anterior - a vein that accompanies the ascending cervical artery and
opens into the vertebral vein

↔ appendicular vein, vena appendicularis - a vein that accompanies the appendicular artery and empties into
the ileocolic vein

↔ arcuate vein of the kidney, vena arcuata renis - veins that receive blood from interlobular veins of kidney and
rectal venules

↔ auricular vein, vena auricularis - one of two veins serving the ear region
↔ axillary vein, vena axillaris - a continuation of the basilic vein and brachial vein that becomes the subclavian
vein

↔ azygos vein, azygous vein, vena azygos - one of a system of veins that drain the thoracic and abdominal
walls; arises as a continuation of the right ascending lumbar vein and terminates in the superior vena cava

↔ basal vein, vena basalis - a large vein passing along the medial surface of the temporal lobe and emptying into
the great cerebral vein

↔ basilic vein, vena basilica - a vein that drains the back of the hand and forearm and empties into the axillary
vein

↔ basivertebral vein, vena basivertebralis - one of a number of veins draining the spongy substance of the
vertebrae and emptying into the anterior internal vertebral venous plexus

↔ brachial vein, vena brachialis - two veins in either arm that accompany the brachial artery and empty into the
axillary vein

↔ brachiocephalic vein, innominate vein, vena brachiocephalica - veins formed by the union of the internal
jugular and subclavian veins
↔ bronchial vein, vena bronchialis - veins serving the bronchi; empty into the azygos vein
↔ cardinal vein - any of the major venous channels in primitive adult vertebrates and in embryos of higher
vertebrates

↔ central veins of liver, venae centrales hepatis - terminal branches of the hepatic veins that lie in the hepatic
lobules and receive blood from the liver sinusoids

↔ central vein of retina, vena centrales retinae - vein formed by the union of the retinal veins; accompanies
central arteries of the retina in the optic nerve

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↔ central vein of suprarenal gland, vena centralis glandulae suprarenalis - a single draining vein; on the right
it empties into the inferior vena cava; on the left it empties into the left renal vein
↔ cephalic vein, vena cephalica - a large vein of the arm that empties into the axillary vein
↔ cerebellar vein, vena cerebellum - the veins draining the cerebellum
↔ cerebral vein, vena cerebri - any of several veins serving the cerebral hemispheres of the brain
↔ cervical vein, deep cervical vein, vena cervicalis profunda - a vein that accompanies an artery of the same
name

↔ choroid vein, vena choroidea - either of two veins serving the choroid coat of the eye
↔ ciliary veins, venae ciliares - small veins coming from the ciliary body
↔ circumflex vein, vena circumflexa - any of several curved parallel veins accompanying arteries of the same
name

↔ clitoral vein, vena clitoridis - veins that serve the clitoris


↔ colic vein, vena colica - vein serving the large intestine
↔ common facial vein - vein formed by union of facial vein and the retromandibular vein and emptying into the
jugular vein

↔ conjunctival veins, venae conjunctivales - veins draining the conjunctiva


↔ costoaxillary vein - one of several veins connecting intercostal veins with the lateral thoracic vein or the
thoracoepigastric vein
2. vein - a distinctive style or manner; "he continued in this vein for several minutes"

↔ expressive style, style - a way of expressing something (in language or art or music etc.)
that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period; "all the reporters were
expected to adopt the style of the newspaper"

3. vein - any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in
a leaf or other plant organ
≡ nervure
↔ fibrovascular bundle, vascular bundle, vascular strand - a unit strand of the vascular system in stems and
leaves of higher plants consisting essentially of xylem and phloem

↔ midrib, midvein - the vein in the center of a leaf


4. vein - a layer of ore between layers of rock

≡ mineral vein
↔ bonanza - an especially rich vein of precious ore
↔ geological formation, formation - (geology) the geological features of the earth
5. vein - one of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect

≡ nervure
↔ rib - a riblike supporting or strengthening part of an animal or plant
Verb 1. vein - make a veinlike pattern
↔ stain - color with a liquid dye or tint; "Stain this table a beautiful walnut color"; "people knew how to stain glass a
beautiful blue in the middle ages"

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Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

vein
noun
1. ≡ blood vessel Many veins are found just under the skin.
2. ≡ mood, style, spirit, way, turn, note, key, character, attitude, atmosphere, tone, manner, bent, stamp,
humour, tendency, mode, temper, temperament, tenor, inclination, disposition, frame of mind He also wrote
several works in a lighter vein.
3. ≡ streak, element, thread, suggestion, strain, trace, hint, dash, trait, sprinkling, nuance, smattering The song
has a vein of black humour running through it.
4. ≡ seam, layer, stratum, course, current, bed, deposit, streak, stripe, lode a rich deep vein of copper in the rock
Related words
technical name ↔ vena
adjective ↔ venous
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

vein noun
1. An intermixture of a contrasting or unexpected quality, especially in a person's character:

≡ strain, streak.
2. A temporary state of mind or feeling:

≡ frame of mind, humor, mood, spirit (used in plural), temper.


3. A distinctive way of expressing oneself:

≡ fashion, manner, mode, style, tone.


The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations Select a language: Spanish / Español ▼

vena nervio

vein [veɪn] N
1. (Anat, Bot) → vena f
2. (Min) [of ore] → filón m, veta f; (in stone) → vena f
3. (fig) (= streak) → vena f
there is a vein of anti-semitism running through his writing → hay una vena antisemita en todos sus escritos
4. (= mood, tone) → vena f
she went on in this vein for some time → continuó de esta guisa or en este tono durante un rato
the next two speakers continued in the same vein → los dos siguientes conferenciantes se expresaron en la misma
línea

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Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers
1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

vein (vein) noun


1. any of the tubes that carry the blood back to the heart. vena
2. a similar-looking line on a leaf. vena, nervio

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

vein → vena

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

vein
n. vena, vaso fibromuscular que lleva la sangre de los capilares al corazón;
spider ___ -s → ___ varicosas.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

vein n vena; antecubital — vena antecubital; external jugular — vena yugular externa; femoral — vena femoral; great
saphenous — vena safena interna; internal jugular — vena yugular interna; portal — vena porta; saphenous — vena
safena; subclavian — vena subclavia

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Copyright © 2003-2023 Farlex, Inc

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