vent
1 Americannoun
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an opening, as in a wall, serving as an outlet for air, smoke, fumes, or the like.
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an opening at the earth's surface from which volcanic material, as lava, steam, or gas, is emitted.
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Zoology. the anal or excretory opening of animals, especially of those below mammals, as birds and reptiles.
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the small opening at the breech of a gun by which fire is communicated to the charge.
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a means of exit or escape; an outlet, as from confinement.
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expression; utterance; release.
to give vent to one's emotions.
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Obsolete. the act or fact of venting; emission or discharge.
verb (used with object)
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to give free play or expression to (an emotion, passion, etc.).
to vent rage.
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to give public utterance to.
to vent one's opinions.
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to relieve by giving expression to something.
He vented his disappointment by criticizing his successor.
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to release or discharge (liquid, smoke, etc.).
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to furnish or provide with a vent or vents.
verb (used without object)
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to be relieved of pressure or discharged by means of a vent.
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(of an otter or other animal) to rise to the surface of the water to breathe.
noun
noun
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a small opening for the passage or escape of fumes, liquids, etc
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the shaft of a volcano or an aperture in the earth's crust through which lava and gases erupt
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the external opening of the urinary or genital systems of lower vertebrates
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a small aperture at the breech of old guns through which the charge was ignited
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an exit, escape, or passage
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to release (an emotion, passion, idea, etc) in an utterance or outburst
verb
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to release or give expression or utterance to (an emotion, idea, etc)
he vents his anger on his wife
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to provide a vent for or make vents in
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to let out (steam, liquid, etc) through a vent
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
- unvented adjective
- venter noun
- ventless adjective
Etymology
Origin of vent1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb venten “to furnish (a vessel) with a vent,” by shortening of Old French esventer (equivalent to es- + -venter, verbal derivative of vent, from Latin ventus “wind”), in later use derivative of the English noun; the noun derives partly from French vent, partly by shortening of French évent ( Old French esvent, derivative of esventer ), and partly derivative of the English verb; ex- 1, wind 1
Origin of vent2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English vent(e); replacing Middle English fente, from Old French or Middle French, derivative of fendre “to slit,” from Latin findere “to split”
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.
Maura Higgins has openly complained about missing out, venting about the injustice of arriving to find — once again — that the salmon was gone.
From Salon
Early activity involved lava spreading out from fissures in the ground, while later eruptions came from more focused vents that built cone shaped features.
From Science Daily
Under the tropical sun, vegetation has been encroaching on the vast concrete and metal structures that once vented flames created by giant rockets blasting off into space.
From Barron's
As he vents at the climax, “They lie to everybody — they lie to the fish!”
From Los Angeles Times
She dragged the shark out of the wagon and across the biggest vent, where steam hissed out between the stones.
From Literature
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.
