Origin of vein
1250–1300; Middle English
veine < Old French < Latin
vēna vein of the body, channel, ore deposit
OTHER WORDS FROM vein
Words nearby vein
Example sentences from the Web for vein
British Dictionary definitions for vein
vein
/ (veɪn) /
noun
verb (tr)
to diffuse over or cause to diffuse over in streaked patterns
to fill, furnish, or mark with or as if with veins
Derived forms of vein
veinal, adjective veinless, adjective veinlike, adjective veiny, adjectiveWord Origin for vein
C13: from Old French
veine, from Latin
vēna
Medical definitions for vein
vein
[ vān ]
n.
Any of the branching blood vessels carrying blood toward the heart. All veins except the pulmonary vein carry dark unaerated blood.
v.
To supply or fill with veins.
Other words from vein
vein′al adj.Scientific definitions for vein
vein
[ vān ]
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.
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). See more at leaf venation.
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.