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   vein

   /veɪn/

   noun

   • 1. any of the tubes forming part of the blood circulation system of the body, carrying in most cases oxygen-depleted blood towards the heart.
   • ▪ (in general use) a blood vessel: "he felt the adrenaline course through his veins"
   • ▪ (in plants) a slender rib running through a leaf or bract, typically dividing or branching, and containing a vascular bundle.
   • ▪ (in insects) a hardened branching rib that forms part of the supporting framework of a wing, consisting of an extension of the tracheal system; a nervure.
   • 2. a fracture in rock containing a deposit of minerals or ore and typically having an extensive course underground: "gold-bearing quartz veins" Similar layerlodeseamstratumstratificationbeddepositaccumulation
   • ▪ a streak or stripe of a different colour in wood, marble, cheese, etc. Similar streakmarkingmarklinestripestripbandthreadfleckdashflashswathestrandtechnical:striastriationlane
   • ▪ a source of a specified quality: "he managed to tap into the thick vein of discontent to his own advantage"
   • 3. a distinctive quality, style, or tendency: "he closes his article in a somewhat humorous vein" Similar moodhumourtempertemperamentdispositionframe of mindstate of mindattitudeinclinationtendencytenortonekeyspiritcharacterstampfeelfeelingflavourqualityatmospheremannerwaystyle

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French veine, from Latin vena. The earliest senses were ‘blood vessel’ and ‘small natural underground channel of water’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. veinless adjective
   • 2. veinlet noun
   • 3. veinlike adjective
   • 4. veiny adjective

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

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