¹vein

noun \ˈvān\

: 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.

Full Definition of VEIN

a : a narrow water channel in rock or earth or in ice

b (1) : lode 2 (2) : a bed of useful mineral matter

c : lode 3

: blood vessel; especially : any of the tubular branching vessels that carry blood from the capillaries toward the heart

a : 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

: something suggesting veins (as in reticulation); specifically : a wavy variegation (as in marble)

a : 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

a : 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 — Shakespeare>

— vein·al \ˈvā-n^əl\ adjective

See vein defined for English-language learners

See vein defined for kids

Origin of VEIN

Middle English veine, from Anglo-French, from Latin vena

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to VEIN

Synonyms: fashion, locution, manner, mode, phraseology, tone, style

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with VEIN

ain, Aisne, ane, Bain, bane, blain, brain, cane, chain, crane, deign, drain, fain, fane, feign, gain, grain, Kane, lane, Lane, main, mane, pain, Paine, pane, plain, plane, quean, rain, reign, rein, sain, sane, seine, Seine, skein, Spain, sprain, stain, strain, swain, thane, thegn, train, twain, Twain, vain, vane, wain, wane, Wayne

²vein

verb

Definition of VEIN

transitive verb

: to pattern with or as if with veins

First Known Use of VEIN

1502

VEIN Defined for Kids

vein

noun \ˈvān\

Definition of VEIN for Kids

: one of the blood vessels that carry the blood back to the heart

: a long narrow opening in rock filled with a specific mineral <a vein of gold>

: a streak of different color or texture (as in marble)

: a style of expression <I continued in a more serious vein. — Gail Carson Levine, Ella Enchanted>

: one of the bundles of fine tubes that make up the framework of a leaf and carry food, water, and nutrients in the plant

: one of the slender parts that stiffen and support the wing of an insect

— veined \ˈvānd\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

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