artery
AH-tuh-ree
Artery (noun) means a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. Example: “A blocked artery can lead to a heart attack.”
noun
1
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
"A blocked artery can lead to a heart attack."
"The doctor felt for the pulse in the artery in her wrist."
"Blood leaves the heart through a large artery called the aorta."
2
A major route that carries a lot of traffic, such as a busy road or rail line.
"The motorway is the main artery connecting the two cities."
"The river is an important artery for trade between the inland towns and the coast."
"Roadworks on the main artery into town caused long delays all morning."
How to use artery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA major blood vessel — or, by comparison, a main route that carries heavy traffic or transport.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
clogged artery
main artery
coronary artery
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like artery.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- arteries
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A blocked _____ can lead to a heart attack.
Etymology
From Old French artaire, from Latin arteria, from Greek arteria, originally meaning "windpipe" as well as "artery."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for artery
See all rhymes for artery →Frequently asked questions
What does “artery” mean?
The word “artery” means a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. In plain terms, a major blood vessel — or, by comparison, a main route that carries heavy traffic or transport.
How do you pronounce “artery”?
“Artery” is pronounced AH-tuh-ree (/ˈɑɹ.təɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “artery” in a sentence?
Here is “artery” used in a sentence: “A blocked artery can lead to a heart attack.”
What is another word for “artery”?
Words with a similar meaning to “artery” include arteria.
What part of speech is “artery”?
“Artery” is a noun.
Where does the word “artery” come from?
The word “artery” comes from Latin. From Old French artaire, from Latin arteria, from Greek arteria, originally meaning "windpipe" as well as "artery.".
Is “artery” a common word?
“Artery” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “artery” have?
“Artery” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
What is the difference between an artery and a vein?
An artery carries blood away from the heart, while a vein carries blood back toward it. This directional difference is the key distinction between the two types of blood vessels.
Why is a busy road sometimes called an artery?
A busy road or rail line can be called an artery because, like a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart, it carries a large volume of traffic along a major route. The term is used figuratively to describe transportation routes that are central to the flow of a city or region.
What is a main artery in a city?
A main artery in a city refers to a major route, such as a busy road or rail line, that carries a large amount of traffic. It is a figurative use of the term based on the blood vessel meaning.
