vein

IPA/veɪn/
KK[vˈen]IPA/veɪn/

vein — noun

  • veinsingular
  • veinsplural

1. one of the tubes in your body that carries blood toward the heart.

1.nounB1
Definition

one of the tubes in your body that carries blood toward the heart.

Example

The nurse found a vein in Gabriel's arm and gently inserted the needle.

collocation: find a vein / insert a needle

Sayaka's hands were so cold that the veins on the back of them looked blue.

Common collocations
  • jugular vein
  • varicose vein
  • deep vein
  • pulmonary vein
  • find a vein
  • blocked vein
Synonyms
  • blood vessel

    the general term for any tube that carries blood, including veins, arteries, and capillaries

  • vena

    the formal medical term for a vein, used in anatomical contexts

Antonyms
  • artery

    carries oxygenated blood away from the heart, whereas a vein carries blood toward the heart

Usage Note

Commonly contrasted with 'artery': veins carry blood toward the heart, while arteries carry blood away from it. The phrase 'deep vein thrombosis' (DVT) is a common medical term. Blood for tests is usually taken from a vein, not an artery.

Common Mistakes

The doctor took blood from my artery.
The doctor took blood from my vein.
Blood samples are drawn from veins, not arteries, because veins carry blood at lower pressure.

2. one of the slender lines that form a branching pattern on a leaf blade or across

2.nounB2
Definition

one of the slender lines that form a branching pattern on a leaf blade or across an insect's wing.

Example

The veins of a maple leaf spread outward from the stem like tiny fingers.

collocation: veins of a leaf

Rania examined the delicate veins of the dragonfly's wing under a microscope.

technical vocabulary: insect wing veins

Common collocations
  • leaf vein
  • wing vein
  • main vein
  • branching vein
  • delicate vein
Synonyms
  • rib

    used for the thicker supporting veins of leaves and insect wings

  • nerve

    older term for leaf vein, still used in some botanical contexts

  • venation

    the collective noun for the vein pattern of a leaf or wing

Usage Note

In botany, the main vein is called the 'midrib' or 'primary vein.' In entomology, the pattern of wing veins is often used to identify insect species.

3. a deposit of valuable minerals, such as gold or silver, that occupies a narrow o

3.nounB2
Definition

a deposit of valuable minerals, such as gold or silver, that occupies a narrow opening inside solid stone.

Example

The miners discovered a rich vein of silver deep inside the mountain.

collocation: rich vein of [mineral]

Camila's grandfather spent years searching for a vein of gold in the nearby hills.

Common collocations
  • rich vein
  • vein of gold
  • vein of silver
  • vein of quartz
  • coal vein
  • mineral vein
Synonyms
  • lode

    a larger, more extensive mineral deposit than a vein

  • seam

    a thin layer of mineral, especially coal, between layers of rock

Usage Note

In geology, 'vein' specifically refers to a mineral deposit that has filled a fracture or crack in the surrounding rock. The related term 'lode' means a larger, more extensive deposit.

4. an underlying quality or tendency that is a lasting part of someone's character

4.nounB2
Definition

an underlying quality or tendency that is a lasting part of someone's character or the nature of something, rather than a temporary mood.

Example

Saira's wedding speech had a warm vein of humour that kept everyone smiling.

collocation: a vein of humour

The editorial about the new policy had a strong vein of political criticism in every paragraph.

Common collocations
  • vein of humour
  • vein of sadness
  • vein of stubbornness
  • vein of criticism
Synonyms
  • streak

    a more informal word for a noticeable personality trait, e.g. 'a mean streak'

  • strain

    suggests a quality that runs through something, similar to 'vein' but slightly more formal

  • thread

    a continuing element running through a story or argument

Usage Note

This sense often uses the construction 'a vein of [quality]' to describe an underlying trait. It is similar to 'streak' or 'strain' — compare 'a stubborn streak' and 'a vein of stubbornness.'

5. a temporary mood, style, or manner of expression that applies to a particular pi

5.nounB2
Definition

a temporary mood, style, or manner of expression that applies to a particular piece of writing, speech, or performance.

Example

After the breakup, Reuben wrote several poems in a sad, reflective vein.

fixed phrase: in a ... vein

The comedian continued his jokes in the same light-hearted vein for an hour.

fixed phrase: in the same vein

Common collocations
  • in the same vein
  • in a different vein
  • in a serious vein
  • in a lighter vein
  • similar vein
Synonyms
  • style

    a broader term that can describe both permanent and temporary ways of expression

  • manner

    a particular way of doing something, more neutral than 'vein'

  • mood

    the emotional tone, closer to the temporary aspect of 'vein'

Usage Note

Very common in the fixed expression 'in the same vein' (in the same style). Also used with descriptive adjectives: 'in a more serious vein,' 'in a similar vein,' 'in a lighter vein.'

Common Mistakes

She spoke in a same vein.
She spoke in the same vein.
The fixed phrase uses 'the' not 'a.'
The speech continued in this vein for hours' can sound unnatural if overused.
The speech continued in this style
Use 'vein' for a temporary mood or manner, not a permanent characteristic.

vein — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to parts of the body's circulatory system, but they differ in function and size. 'Vein' and 'artery' are both large blood vessels, but they work in opposite directions: veins carry blood toward the heart, while arteries carry blood away from it. This functional difference matters in medicine — blood drawn for tests comes from a vein, while a pulse is felt in an artery. 'Capillary' describes the smallest blood vessels, forming a fine web that connects arteries and veins at the tissue level. 'Blood vessel' is the general term that covers all three. For everyday use, 'vein' is the most common word because of visible veins in the arms and hands, while 'artery' appears more often in health contexts like heart disease. Example: 'The nurse found a good vein in my arm,' but 'The doctor checked the artery in my wrist for a pulse.'

vein ↗artery ↗capillary ↗blood vessel

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in the same vein
  • in a similar vein
  • a vein of humour
  • a vein of gold
  • rich vein

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'vein' comes from Old French 'veine', which in turn came from Latin 'vēna' meaning a blood vessel, channel, or seam in the earth. The Latin word already carried both the anatomical meaning (blood vessel) and the geological meaning (mineral seam). From the idea of a 'streak' running through something, the figurative uses developed over time: a 'vein of humour' (an underlying quality) and 'in the same vein' (a continuing style or mood).