vein

1 of 2

noun

1
: blood vessel
especially : any of the tubular branching vessels that carry blood from the capillaries toward the heart
2
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
3
a
: a narrow water channel in rock or earth or in ice
b(1)
(2)
: a bed of useful mineral matter
4
: something suggesting veins (as in reticulation)
specifically : a wavy variegation (as in marble)
5
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
6
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 veinWilliam Shakespeare
veinal adjective

vein

2 of 2

verb

veined; veining; veins

transitive verb

: to pattern with or as if with veins

Examples of vein in a Sentence

Noun the author goes on in that sarcastic vein for pages
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
While the most common types of strokes are caused by a blockage of an artery, a smaller percentage are caused by bleeding — and even fewer result from clots in veins. Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024 Drawing on over 50,000 pages of case files and personal interviews with those close to the victims, the eight-episode series will track tragedy with vein of dark humor the filmmakers liken to that of Adam McKay and the Coen Brothers. Ben Croll, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 These devices are small enough to fit in a lab coat pocket and flexible enough to image any part of the body, from deep organs to shallow veins, with sweeping 3D views, all with a single probe. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Mar. 2024 The latest feature in this vein is called free-form ads. Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 16 Mar. 2024 Pregnancy, extended sitting, or long hours on your feet can strain your veins and cause your feet to swell. Nsisong Bassey, Verywell Health, 15 Mar. 2024 Trending on Billboard Tigers Blood carries on in Saint Cloud’s alt-country vein, and like that record, it was made in just two weeks at Texas studio Sonic Ranch with producer Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Snail Mail). Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2024 Think of your pre-rolls in a similar vein as your edibles. Harrison Bard, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024 In the same vein, protecting yourself and your family is simple. Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
The ropey veins in James Hetfield’s throat threatened to burst through his skin, Kirk Hammett’s fingers were a blur on the guitar frets and no one can pull a stank face quite like Lars Ulrich while relentlessly shredding on the drums. Spin Staff, SPIN, 21 Dec. 2023 Available in both black and white, each stocking holder is a chic and modern block of Marquina marble with contrast veining variations, meaning each stocking holder will be unique. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2023 Mark veins on leaves with a pastry wheel or sharp knife. Eugenia W. Bell, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2023 The up-to-date kitchen, all white with stainless-steel appliances and lightly veined white marble (or marble-like) counters, is open over a snack bar to a casual lounge for TV watching. Mark David, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2023 Countertops are veined gray quartz, and backsplashes are vertical 3-by-6-inch gray tile. Benjamin C Tankersley, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023 The results suggested that as rain soaks into cracks in the ground, CO2 dissolved in the rainwater pairs up with magnesium atoms, forming magnesium carbonate veins, until the small amount of gas in the water quickly runs out. Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 1 July 2021 Companies are offering marble-look tile in unexpected hues like magenta and green, or with veining in gold or copper. Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2019 Coming up, says Tien: Parker House rolls veined with scallions and shallots, a riff on Chinese scallion pancakes. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vein.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

1502, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near vein

Cite this Entry

“Vein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vein. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vein

noun
ˈvān
1
: a long narrow opening in rock filled with mineral matter
a vein of gold
2
a
: one of the blood vessels that carry blood from the capillaries back to the heart
b
: one of the vascular bundles forming the framework of a leaf
c
: one of the thickened ribs that stiffen the wings of an insect
3
: a wavy band or streak (as of a different color or texture)
a marble with greenish veins
4
: a style of expression
stories in a romantic vein

Medical Definition

vein

noun
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on vein

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