VEIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vein mean? 

• VEIN (noun)
  The noun VEIN has 5 senses:

1. a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

2. a distinctive style or manner

3. any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ

4. a layer of ore between layers of rock

5. one of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect

  Familiarity information: VEIN used as a noun is common.

• VEIN (verb)
  The verb VEIN has 1 sense:

1. make a veinlike pattern

  Familiarity information: VEIN used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VEIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

vein; vena; venous blood vessel

Context example:

all veins except the pulmonary vein carry unaerated blood

Hypernyms ("vein" is a kind of...):

blood vessel (a vessel in which blood circulates)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "vein"):

accessory cephalic vein; vena cephalica accessoria (a vein that passes along the radial edge of the forearm and joins the cephalic vein near the elbow)

accessory hemiazygos vein; accessory hemiazygous vein; vena hemiazygos accessoria (a vein formed by the union of the 4th to 7th posterior intercostal veins; empties into the azygos vein)

accessory vertebral vein; vena vertebralis accessoria (a vein that accompanies the vertebral vein but passes through the foramen of the transverse process of the 7th cervical vertebra and empties into the brachiocephalic vein)

accompanying vein; vena comitans (a vein accompanying another structure; a vein may accompany an artery in such a way that the arterial pulses aid venous return)

anastomotic vein; vena anastomotica (either of two communicating veins serving the brain)

angular vein; vena angularis (a short vein formed by the supraorbital vein and the supratrochlear vein and continuing as the facial vein)

anterior vertebral vein; vena vertebralis anterior (a vein that accompanies the ascending cervical artery and opens into the vertebral vein)

appendicular vein; vena appendicularis (a vein that accompanies the appendicular artery and empties into the ileocolic vein)

arcuate vein of the kidney; vena arcuata renis (veins that receive blood from interlobular veins of kidney and rectal venules)

auricular vein; vena auricularis (one of two veins serving the ear region)

axillary vein; vena axillaris (a continuation of the basilic vein and brachial vein that becomes the subclavian vein)

azygos vein; azygous vein; vena azygos (one of a system of veins that drain the thoracic and abdominal walls; arises as a continuation of the right ascending lumbar vein and terminates in the superior vena cava)

basal vein; vena basalis (a large vein passing along the medial surface of the temporal lobe and emptying into the great cerebral vein)

basilic vein; vena basilica (a vein that drains the back of the hand and forearm and empties into the axillary vein)

basivertebral vein; vena basivertebralis (one of a number of veins draining the spongy substance of the vertebrae and emptying into the anterior internal vertebral venous plexus)

brachial vein; vena brachialis (two veins in either arm that accompany the brachial artery and empty into the axillary vein)

brachiocephalic vein; innominate vein; vena brachiocephalica (veins formed by the union of the internal jugular and subclavian veins)

bronchial vein; vena bronchialis (veins serving the bronchi; empty into the azygos vein)

cardinal vein (any of the major venous channels in primitive adult vertebrates and in embryos of higher vertebrates)

central veins of liver; venae centrales hepatis (terminal branches of the hepatic veins that lie in the hepatic lobules and receive blood from the liver sinusoids)

central vein of retina; vena centrales retinae (vein formed by the union of the retinal veins; accompanies central arteries of the retina in the optic nerve)

central vein of suprarenal gland; vena centralis glandulae suprarenalis (a single draining vein; on the right it empties into the inferior vena cava; on the left it empties into the left renal vein)

cephalic vein; vena cephalica (a large vein of the arm that empties into the axillary vein)

cerebellar vein; vena cerebellum (the veins draining the cerebellum)

cerebral vein; vena cerebri (any of several veins serving the cerebral hemispheres of the brain)

cervical vein; deep cervical vein; vena cervicalis profunda (a vein that accompanies an artery of the same name)

choroid vein; vena choroidea (either of two veins serving the choroid coat of the eye)

ciliary veins; venae ciliares (small veins coming from the ciliary body)

circumflex vein; vena circumflexa (any of several curved parallel veins accompanying arteries of the same name)

clitoral vein; vena clitoridis (veins that serve the clitoris)

colic vein; vena colica (vein serving the large intestine)

common facial vein (vein formed by union of facial vein and the retromandibular vein and emptying into the jugular vein)

conjunctival veins; venae conjunctivales (veins draining the conjunctiva)

costoaxillary vein (one of several veins connecting intercostal veins with the lateral thoracic vein or the thoracoepigastric vein)

cutaneous vein; vena cutanea (one of a number of veins in the subcutaneous tissue that empty into deep veins)

cystic vein; vena cystica (vein that drains the gallbladder)

digital vein; vena digitalis (one of the veins serving the fingers or toes)

diploic vein; vena diploica (one of the veins serving the spongy part of the cranial bones)

dorsal scapular vein; vena scapularis dorsalis (vein that is a tributary of the subclavian vein or external jugular vein and accompanies the descending scapular artery)

emissary vein; vena emissaria (one of several connecting veins in the scalp and head that drain blood from sinuses in the dura mater to veins outside the skull)

epigastric vein (veins serving the anterior walls of the abdomen)

esophageal veins; oesophageal veins; venae esophageae (small veins from the esophagus emptying into the brachiocephalic vein or the azygos veins)

ethmoidal vein; vena ethmoidalis (veins that drain the ethmoidal sinuses and empty into the superior ophthalmic vein)

external nasal vein; vena nasalis externa (one of the veins that drain the external nose and empty into the angular or facial vein)

facial vein; vena facialis (any of several veins draining the face)

femoral vein; vena femoralis (a vein that accompanies the femoral artery in the same sheath; a continuation of the popliteal vein; becomes the external iliac vein)

gastric vein; vena gastrica (one of several veins draining the stomach walls)

gastroepiploic vein; gastroomental vein; vena gastroomentalis (one of two veins serving the great curvature of the stomach)

genicular vein; vena genus (veins that drain blood from structures around the knee; empty into the popliteal vein)

gluteal vein; vena gluteus (veins draining the gluteal muscles on either side of the body)

hemizygos vein; hemizygous vein; vena hemizygos (a continuation of the left ascending lumbar vein; crosses the midline at the 8th vertebra and empties into the azygos vein)

hemorrhoidal vein; rectal vein; vena rectalis (any of several veins draining the walls of the anal canal and rectum)

hepatic vein; vena hepatica (a vein that drains the liver; empties into the vena cava)

ileocolic vein; vena ileocolica (a vein that drains the end of the ileum and the appendix and the cecum and the lower part of the ascending colon)

iliac vein; vena iliaca (one of three veins draining the pelvic area)

iliolumbar vein; vena iliolumbalis (a branch of the internal iliac vein)

intercapitular vein; vena intercapitalis (veins connecting the dorsal and palmar veins of the hand or the dorsal and plantar veins of the foot)

intercostal vein; vena intercostalis (several veins draining the intercostal spaces of the rib cage)

intervertebral vein; vena intervertebralis (one of several veins accompanying spinal nerves)

jugular; jugular vein; vena jugularis (veins in the neck that return blood from the head)

labial vein; vena labialis (a vein draining the lips of the mouth)

labial vein; vena labialis (veins draining the lips of the vulva)

internal auditory vein; labyrinthine vein (veins that drain the inner ear)

lacrimal vein; vena lacrimalis (drains the lacrimal gland; empties into the superior ophthalmic vein)

laryngeal vein; vena laryngea (one of two veins draining the larynx)

lingual vein; vena lingualis (a vein that receives blood from the tongue and the floor of the mouth and empties into the internal jugular or the facial vein)

lumbar vein; vena lumbalis (veins that drain the posterior body wall and the lumbar vertebral venous plexuses)

maxillary vein; vena maxillaris (posterior continuation of the pterygoid plexus; joins the superficial temporal vein to form the retromandibular vein)

meningeal veins; venae meningeae (veins at accompany the meningeal arteries)

mesenteric vein; vena mesenterica (a tributary of the portal vein passing from the intestine between the two layers of mesentery)

metacarpal vein; vena metacarpus (dorsal and palmar veins of the hand)

metatarsal vein; vena metatarsus (dorsal and plantar branches of veins serving the metatarsal region of the foot)

musculophrenic vein; vena musculophrenica (veins that drain the upper abdominal wall and the lower intercostal spaces and the abdomen)

nasofrontal vein; vena nasofrontalis (a vein located in the anterior medial part of the orbit; connects the superior ophthalmic with the angular vein)

oblique vein of the left atrium; vena obliqua atrii sinistri (a tributary of the coronary sinus; on the posterior wall of the left atrium)

obturator vein; vena obturatoria (a vein formed by the union of tributaries that drain the hip joints and thigh muscles; empties into the internal iliac vein)

occipital vein; vena occipitalis (a vein that drains the occipital region)

ophthalmic vein; vena ophthalmica (either of two veins that serve the eye; empties into the cavernous sinus)

ovarian vein; vena ovarica (one of the veins that drain the ovaries; the right opens into the inferior vena cava; the left opens into the left renal vein)

palatine vein; vena palatina (a vein that drains the region of the palate and empties into the facial vein)

pancreatic vein; venae pancreatica (veins draining the pancreas and emptying into the superior mesenteric and splenic veins)

paraumbilical vein; vena paraumbilicalis (small veins arising in skin around the navel; terminate as accessory portal veins)

parotid vein (parotid branches of the facial vein; they drain part of the parotid gland and empty into the retromandibular vein)

pectoral vein; vena pectoralis (veins that drain the pectoral muscles and empty into the subclavian vein)

perforating vein; vena perforantis (veins that accompany the perforating arteries; drain leg muscles; empty into the deep femoral vein)

pericardial vein; vena pericardiaca (several small veins from the pericardium)

fibular vein; peroneal vein; vena peroneus (accompany the peroneal arteries; arising in the heel and running up the back of the leg to join the posterior tibial veins of the popliteal vein)

pharyngeal vein; vena pharyngeus (veins from the pharyngeal plexus that empty into the internal jugular vein)

phrenic vein; vena phrenica (either of two veins that drain the diaphragm)

popliteal vein; vena poplitea (a vein arising in the knee and ascending to become the femoral vein)

hepatic portal vein; portal; portal vein; vena portae (a short vein that carries blood into the liver)

posterior vein of the left ventricle; vena posterior ventriculi sinistri (arises near the apex of the heart and empties into the coronary sinus)

prepyloric vein; vena pylorica (a tributary of the right gastric vein)

pudendal vein; venae pudendum (vein of the pudendum)

pulmonary vein; vena pulmonalis (any of four veins that carry arterial blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart)

radial vein; vena radialis (superficial veins ascending the radial side of the forearm; combines with the ulnar veins to form the brachial vein)

renal vein; vena renalis (veins that accompany renal arteries; open into the vena cava at the level of the 2nd lumbar vertebra)

sacral vein; vena sacralis (vein of the sacral region)

saphenous vein; vena saphena (either of two chief superficial veins of the leg that drain blood from the foot)

scleral veins; venae sclerales (tributaries of the anterior ciliary veins that drain the sclera of the eye)

scrotal vein; vena scrotalis (veins passing from the scrotum to the pudendal veins)

sigmoid vein; vena sigmoideus (tributaries of the inferior mesenteric vein; drains the sigmoid colon)

spinal vein; vena spinalis (veins that drain the spinal cord)

splenic vein; vena lienalis (a vein formed by several small veins on the surface of the spleen; joins the superior mesenteric to form the portal vein)

sternocleidomastoid vein; vena sternocleidomastoidea (drains the sternocleidomastoid muscle; empties into the internal jugular vein)

stylomastoid vein; vena stylomastoidea (a vein that drains the tympanic cavity and empties into the retromandibular vein)

subclavian vein; vena subclavia (a continuation of the axillary vein; joins the internal jugular to form the brachiocephalic vein)

sublingual vein; vena sublingualis (a tributary of the lingual vein)

supraorbital vein; vena supraorbitalis (drains the front of the scalp; unites with the supratrochlear vein to form the angular vein)

supratrochlear vein; vena supratrochlearis (drains the front of the scalp; unites with the supraorbital vein to form the angular vein)

temporal vein; vena temporalis (any of several veins draining the temporal region)

testicular vein; vena testicularis (a vein from the testicles)

thalamostriate vein (a vein serving the thalamus and corpus striatum)

thoracoepigastric vein; vena thoracoepigastrica (a vein arising from the region of the superficial epigastric vein and opening into the axillary vein or thoracic vein)

thoracic vein; vena thoracica (veins that drain the thoracic walls)

thyroid vein; vena thyroidea (any of several small veins draining blood from the thyroid area)

tibial vein; vena tibialis (veins of the lower leg; empty into the popliteal vein)

tracheal vein; vena trachealis (several small veins from the trachea)

tympanic vein (veins from the tympanic cavity that empty into the retromandibular vein)

ulnar vein; vena ulnaris (any of several veins of the forearm)

umbilical vein; vena umbilicalis (a vein in the umbilical cord; returns nutrient blood from the placenta to the fetus)

uterine vein (one of two veins on each side that arise from the uterine plexus and empty into the internal iliac vein)

varicose vein (a vein that is permanently dilated; most common in the legs)

vena bulbi penis (vein of the head of the penis; tributary of the internal pudendal vein that drains the perineum)

vena canaliculi cochleae (vein of the cochlear canal)

vein of penis (a vein serving the penis)

vena bulbi vestibuli (vein of the vestibular bulb)

vena cava (either of two large veins that return oxygen-depleted blood to the right atrium of the heart)

venae palpebrales (veins of the eyelids)

venae interlobulares hepatis (interlobular veins of the liver)

venae renis (veins of the kidney; drain the kidney into the renal vein)

vena vertebralis; vertebral vein (a vein that goes through the foramina of the cervical vertebrae and forms a plexus around the vertebral artery; empties into the brachiocephalic vein)

vena vesicalis; vesical vein (veins that drain the vesical plexus and join the internal iliac veins)

vena vestibularis; vestibular vein (veins that drain the saccule and utricle)

vena vorticosum; vortex vein; vorticose vein (a vein formed by branches from the back surface of the eye and the ciliary body; empties into the ophthalmic veins)

capillary vein; venula; venule (a minute vein continuous with a capillary)

Holonyms ("vein" is a part of...):

cardiovascular system; circulatory system (the organs and tissues involved in circulating blood and lymph through the body)

Derivation:

venous (of or contained in or performing the function of the veins)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A distinctive style or manner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

he continued in this vein for several minutes

Hypernyms ("vein" is a kind of...):

expressive style; style (a way of expressing something (in language or art or music etc.) that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

nervure; vein

Hypernyms ("vein" is a kind of...):

fibrovascular bundle; vascular bundle; vascular strand (a unit strand of the vascular system in stems and leaves of higher plants consisting essentially of xylem and phloem)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "vein"):

midrib; midvein (the vein in the center of a leaf)

Derivation:

veinal (relating to the veins of plants)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A layer of ore between layers of rock

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

mineral vein; vein

Hypernyms ("vein" is a kind of...):

formation; geological formation ((geology) the geological features of the earth)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "vein"):

bonanza (an especially rich vein of precious ore)

Sense 5

Meaning:

One of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

nervure; vein

Hypernyms ("vein" is a kind of...):

rib (a riblike supporting or strengthening part of an animal or plant)

• VEIN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a veinlike pattern

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "vein" is one way to...):

stain (color with a liquid dye or tint)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

A thin, flexible tube that is inserted into a large vein, usually in the back of the hand, the lower part of the arm, or the foot.

(Peripheral venous catheter, NCI Dictionary)

Radioactive octreotide, a drug similar to somatostatin, is injected into a vein and travels through the bloodstream.

(Octreotide scan, NCI Dictionary)

Any disorder affecting blood flow through the veins or arteries outside of the heart.

(Peripheral Vascular Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

A vein located in the ear region.

(Auricular Vein, NCI Thesaurus)

And his blood ran cold in his veins.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Said he not that the transfusion of his blood to her veins had made her truly his bride?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A disorder characterized by inflammation of the wall of a vein.

(Phlebitis, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

Administration into the area surrounding a vein.

(Perivenous Route of Administration, NCI Thesaurus)

One of two veins (inferior or superior) that returns deoxygenated blood from the intestines.

(Mesenteric Vein, NCI Thesaurus)

A vein that it is part of the deep intracranial venous system.

(Anterior Caudate Vein, NCI Thesaurus)