[French, from Old French nerveure, strap, from nerf, sinew, from Latin nervus; see nerve.]
vein (vān) n.
Anatomy Any of the membranous tubes that form a branching system and carry blood to the heart.
A blood vessel.
A transient attitude or mood.
A particular turn of mind: spoke later in a more serious vein.
Botany One of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other expanded plant organ. Also called nervure.
Zoology One of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect. Also called nervure.
Geology A regularly shaped and lengthy occurrence of an ore; a lode.
A long wavy strip of a different shade or color, as in wood or marble, or as mold in cheese.
A fissure, crack, or cleft.
A pervading character or quality; a streak: "All through the interminable narrative there ran a vein of impressive earnestness"(Mark Twain). See Synonyms at streak.
A transient attitude or mood.
A particular turn of mind: spoke later in a more serious vein.
tr.v.
veined, vein·ing, veins
To supply or fill with veins.
To mark or decorate with veins.
[Middle English veine, from Old French, from Latin vēna.] vein'al adj.
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