veins)
|vein|
/veɪn/
(vein)
blood vessel
Etymology
'vein' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'veine', ultimately from Latin 'vena' meaning 'vein, blood vessel'.
'vein' changed from Old French 'veine', which itself comes from Latin 'vena'; it entered Middle English as 'veine' and eventually became modern English 'vein'.
Initially, it meant 'a blood vessel'; over time it broadened to include 'a streak or seam of mineral' and figurative senses like 'a characteristic tendency or style'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart (usually deoxygenated blood).
The nurse checked the patient's veins before drawing blood.
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Noun 2
a distinct sheet, seam, or layer of mineral or ore in rock (a lode).
The miners followed a rich vein of gold.
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Noun 3
a particular quality, tendency, or style running through something (e.g., a 'vein' of humor).
Her essays are often written in a humorous vein.
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Verb 1
to streak or mark (a material) with lines or veins (e.g., marble veined with gold).
The marble is veined with pale gray lines.
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Last updated: 2025/10/22 23:29