vein Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
venous blood vessel; vena.
- all veins except the pulmonary vein carry unaerated blood
noun a distinctive style or manner
- he continued in this vein for several minutes
noun any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ
nervure.
noun a layer of ore between layers of rock
mineral vein.
noun one of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect
nervure.
verb make a veinlike pattern

OE. veine, F. veine, L. vena.

(Anat.) One of the vessels which carry blood, either venous or arterial, to the heart. See Artery, 2.
(Bot.) One of the similar branches of the framework of a leaf.
(Zoöl.) One of the ribs or nervures of the wings of insects. See Venation.
(Geol. or Mining) A narrow mass of rock intersecting other rocks, and filling inclined or vertical fissures not corresponding with the stratification; a lode; a dike; -- often limited, in the language of miners, to a mineral vein or lode, that is, to a vein which contains useful minerals or ores.
A fissure, cleft, or cavity, as in the earth or other substance. "Down to the veins of earth." Milton.
Let the glass of the prisms be free from veins. Sir I. Newton.
A streak or wave of different color, appearing in wood, and in marble and other stones; variegation.
A train of association, thoughts, emotions, or the like; a current; a course.
He can open a vein of true and noble thinking. Swift.
Peculiar temper or temperament; tendency or turn of mind; a particular disposition or cast of genius; humor; strain; quality; also, manner of speech or action; as, a rich vein of humor; a satirical vein. Shak.
Certain discoursing wits which are of the same veins. Bacon.

Invoke the Muses, and improve my vein. Waller.

imperfect & past participle Veined ; present participle & verbal noun Veining