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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

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."
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."

How to Use Artery

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA major blood vessel — or, by comparison, a main route that carries heavy traffic or transport.

Common pairings
clogged artery main artery coronary artery

Word Forms

arteries plural

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Test yourself on “artery” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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."

Origin: Latin

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.

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