vein
Vein (noun) means a blood vessel that carries blood from the body back toward the heart. Example: “The nurse found a vein in his arm to draw blood.”
How to use vein
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe tube blood flows through on its way back to the heart, or a streak/theme that runs through something else, by resemblance to that pattern.
Easily confused with "vain" (conceited, or futile) and "vane" (a weather vane) — all three sound identical.
Word forms
veined past tense, veins plural, veins singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse found a _____ in his arm to draw blood.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman veine, from Latin vēna ("blood vessel"). A doublet of vena, the anatomical term still used in Latin names for specific veins.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for vein
See all rhymes for vein →Frequently asked questions
What does “vein” mean?
The word “vein” means a blood vessel that carries blood from the body back toward the heart. In plain terms, the tube blood flows through on its way back to the heart, or a streak/theme that runs through something else, by resemblance to that pattern.
How do you pronounce “vein”?
“Vein” is pronounced vayn (/veɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “vein” in a sentence?
Here is “vein” used in a sentence: “The nurse found a vein in his arm to draw blood.”
What is another word for “vein”?
Words with a similar meaning to “vein” include vena.
What part of speech is “vein”?
“Vein” is a noun.
Where does the word “vein” come from?
The word “vein” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman veine, from Latin vēna ("blood vessel"). A doublet of vena, the anatomical term still used in Latin names for specific veins.
Is “vein” a common word?
“Vein” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “vein” have?
“Vein” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a blood vessel that carries blood from the body back toward the heart.
What is the difference between a vein and an artery?
A vein carries blood from the body back toward the heart, whereas an artery carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Veins generally carry deoxygenated blood, while arteries typically carry oxygenated blood, with the pulmonary vessels being a notable exception.
What does it mean to describe something as being in a certain vein?
This figurative use of vein describes a particular style, mood, or way of thinking that runs through something, such as a book written 'in a comic vein.' It draws on the idea of a vein as a distinct streak running through a larger whole.
What does vein mean when describing marble or wood?
In this sense, a vein is a thin streak of different colour or texture running through a material like marble, wood, or cheese, giving it a distinctive, often decorative pattern.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include vein: