vein
Americannoun
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one of the system of branching vessels or tubes conveying blood from various parts of the body to the heart.
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(loosely) any blood vessel.
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one of the riblike thickenings that form the framework of the wing of an insect.
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one of the strands or bundles of vascular tissue forming the principal framework of a leaf.
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any body or stratum of ore, coal, etc., clearly separated or defined.
a rich vein of coal.
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a body or mass of igneous rock, deposited mineral, or the like occupying a crevice or fissure in rock; lode.
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a natural channel or watercourse beneath the surface of the earth.
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the water running through such a channel.
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a streak or marking, as of a different shade or color, running through marble, wood, etc.
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a condition, mood, or temper.
a vein of pessimism.
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a tendency, quality, or strain traceable in character, conduct, writing, etc.; manner or style.
to write in a poetic vein.
verb (used with object)
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to furnish with veins.
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to mark with lines or streaks suggesting veins.
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to extend over or through in the manner of veins.
Broad new highways vein the countryside.
noun
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any of the tubular vessels that convey oxygen-depleted blood to the heart Compare pulmonary vein artery
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any of the hollow branching tubes that form the supporting framework of an insect's wing
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any of the vascular strands of a leaf
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a clearly defined mass of ore, mineral, etc, filling a fault or fracture, often with a tabular or sheetlike shape
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an irregular streak of colour or alien substance in marble, wood, or other material
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a natural underground watercourse
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a crack or fissure
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a distinctive trait or quality in speech, writing, character, etc; strain
a vein of humour
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a temporary disposition, attitude, or temper; mood
the debate entered a frivolous vein
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a parting in hair
verb
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to diffuse over or cause to diffuse over in streaked patterns
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to fill, furnish, or mark with or as if with veins
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Any of the blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart from the body's cells, tissues, and organs. Veins are thin-walled and contain valves that prevent the backflow of blood. All veins except the pulmonary vein carry blood with low levels of oxygen.
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One of the narrow, usually branching tubes or supporting parts forming the framework of an insect's wing or a leaf. Veins in insect wings carry hemolymph and contain a nerve. Veins in leaves contain vascular tissue, with the xylem usually occurring on the upper side of the vein (bringing in water and nutrients) and the phloem on the lower side (carrying away food).
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A long, narrow deposit of mineral or rock that fills the void formed by a fracture or fault in another rock. The mineralogy of the host rock surrounding the vein is often altered where it is in contact with the vein because of chemical reactions between the two rock types.
Other Word Forms
- intervein verb (used with object)
- interveinal adjective
- subvein noun
- unveined adjective
- veinal adjective
- veinless adjective
- veinlike adjective
- veiny adjective
Etymology
Origin of vein
1250–1300; Middle English veine < Old French < Latin vēna vein of the body, channel, ore deposit
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Maybe we take a break from spending the night at Taylor’s,” he said, as several veins bulged out of his forehead.
Not to say that he wouldn’t be willing to take a burrow by force if necessary, for the blood of conquerors flowed vigorously through his veins.
From Literature
Once, they had been very helpful in the mines since they can sense large veins of gold from a mile away and deep in the earth.
From Literature
Top, 28, only burst onto the country music scene two years ago, but music has always been in his veins.
From BBC
A team first-person shooter in the vein of genre classics like "Counter-Strike", "Rainbow Six Siege" is one of Ubisoft's biggest titles, rewarding coordinated tactical play and deft use of destructible environments.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
