vent definition | Dictionary.com

vent

1 [vent]

–noun

1.	an opening, as in a wall, serving as an outlet for air, smoke, fumes, or the like.

2.	an opening at the earth's surface from which volcanic material, as lava, steam, or gas, is emitted.

3.	Zoology. the anal or excretory opening of animals, esp. of those below mammals, as birds and reptiles.

4.	the small opening at the breech of a gun by which fire is communicated to the charge.

5.	a means of exit or escape; an outlet, as from confinement.

6.	expression; utterance; release: to give vent to one's emotions.

7.	Obsolete. the act or fact of venting; emission or discharge.

–verb (used with object)

8.	to give free play or expression to (an emotion, passion, etc.): to vent rage.

9.	to give public utterance to: to vent one's opinions.

10.	to relieve by giving expression to something: He vented his disappointment by criticizing his successor.

11.	to release or discharge (liquid, smoke, etc.).

12.	to furnish or provide with a vent or vents.

–verb (used without object)

13.	to be relieved of pressure or discharged by means of a vent.

14.	(of an otter or other animal) to rise to the surface of the water to breathe.

Origin:
1350–1400; (v.) ME venten to furnish (a vessel) with a vent, by aphesis < OF esventer (es- ex- + -venter, v. deriv. of vent < L ventus wind ¹ ), in later use deriv. of the E n.; (n.) partly < F vent (< L ventus), partly by aphesis < F évent (OF esvent, deriv. of esventer), partly deriv. of the E v.

Related forms:

ventless, adjective

vent

2 [vent]

–noun

a slit in the back or side of a coat, jacket, or other garment, at the bottom part of a seam.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME vente; r. ME fente < MF, deriv. of fendre to slit < L findere to split

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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vent¹ (věnt)

A means of escape or release from confinement; an outlet: give vent to one's anger.
An opening permitting the escape of fumes, a liquid, a gas, or steam.
The small hole at the breech of a gun through which the charge is ignited.
Zoology The excretory opening of the digestive tract in animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Geology
1. The opening of a volcano in the earth's crust.
2. An opening on the ocean floor that emits hot water and dissolved minerals.

v. vent·ed, vent·ing, vents

v. tr.

To express (one's thoughts or feelings, for example), especially forcefully.
To release or discharge (steam, for example) through an opening.
To provide with a vent.

v. intr.

To vent one's feelings or opinions.
To be released or discharged through an opening.
To rise to the surface of water to breathe. Used of a marine mammal.

[Partly from French vent (from Old French) and partly alteration of French évent (from Old French esvent, from esventer, to let out air, from Vulgar Latin *exventāre : Latin ex-; see ex- + Latin ventus, wind; see wē- in Indo-European roots).]
vent'er n.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to give outlet to thoughts or emotions. To vent is to unburden oneself of a strong pent-up emotion: "She was jealous ... and glad of any excuse to vent her pique" (Edward G.E.L. Bulwer-Lytton).
Express, a more comprehensive term, refers to both verbal and nonverbal communication: found the precise words to express her idea; expressed his affection with a hug; "expressing emotion in the form of art" (T.S. Eliot).
Utter involves vocal expression: "The words were uttered in the hearing of Montezuma" (William Hickling Prescott).
Voice denotes the expression of outlook or viewpoint: The lawyer voiced her satisfaction with the verdict.
To air is to show off one's feelings, beliefs, or ideas: They aired their differences during dinner.

vent² (věnt)

n. A slit in a garment, as in the back seam of a jacket.

[Middle English vente, alteration (probably influenced by Old French vent, wind) of fente, from Old French, slit, from fendre, to split open, from Latin findere; see fission.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Vent

Vent\, n. [F. vente, fr. L. vendere, -itum, to sell; perh. confused with E. vent an opening. See Vend.] Sale; opportunity to sell; market. [Obs.] --Shelton.

There is no vent for any commodity but of wool. --Sir W. Temple.

Vent

Vent\, v. t. To sell; to vend. [Obs.]

Therefore did those nations vent such spice. --Sir W. Raleigh.

Vent

Vent\, n. [Sp. venta a poor inn, sale, market. See Vent sale.] A baiting place; an inn. [Obs.]

Vent

Vent\, v. i. [Cf. F. venter to blow, vent wind (see Ventilate); but prob influenced by E. vent an opening.] To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Vent

Vent\, n. [OE. fent, fente, a slit, F. fente a slit, cleft, fissure, from fendre to split, L. findere; but probably confused with F. vent wind, L. ventus. See Fissure, and cf. Vent to snuff.]

1. A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or any fluid to escape; as, the vent of a cask; the vent of a mold; a volcanic vent.

Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents. --Shak.

Long't was doubtful, both so closely pent, Which first should issue from the narrow vent. --Pope.

2. Specifically: (a) (Zo["o]l.) The anal opening of certain invertebrates and fishes; also, the external cloacal opening of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many fishes. (b) (Gun.) The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole. (c) (Steam Boilers) Sectional area of the passage for gases divided by the length of the same passage in feet.

3. Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy; outlet.

4. Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication; utterance.

Without the vent of words. --Milton.

Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel. --Shak.

To give vent to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth; as, to give vent to anger.

To take vent, to escape; to be made public. [R.]

Vent feather (Zo["o]l.), one of the anal, or crissal, feathers of a bird.

Vent field (Gun.), a flat raised surface around a vent.

Vent piece. (Gun.) (a) A bush. See 4th Bush, n., 2. (b) A breech block.

Vent

Vent\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vented; p. pr. & vb. n. Venting.]

1. To let out at a vent, or small aperture; to give passage or outlet to.

2. To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to pour forth; as, to vent passion or complaint.

The queen of heaven did thus her fury vent. --Dryden.

3. To utter; to report; to publish. [Obs.]

By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies. --Milton.

Thou hast framed and vented very curious orations. --Barrow.

4. To scent, as a hound. [Obs.] --Turbervile.

5. To furnish with a vent; to make a vent in; as, to vent. a mold.

Language Translation for : vent

Spanish: respiradero; rejilla de ventilación,

German: das Abzugsloch,

Japanese: 通気穴

More Translations »

vent (v.)

1398, "emit from a confined space," probably aphetic of O.Fr. eventer "let out, expose to air," from V.L. *exventare, from L. ex- "out" + ventus "wind" (see wind (n.)). Sense of "express freely" first recorded 1596. The noun meaning "hole, opening, outlet" is first recorded 1570. Meaning "action of venting" is recorded from 1558. Sense of "divulge, publish" (1596) is behind phrase vent one's spleen (see spleen).

Main Entry: vent
Pronunciation: 'vent
Function: noun
: an opening for the escape of a gas or liquid or for the relief of pressure; especially : the external opening of the rectum or cloaca : ANUS

vent (věnt)
n.
An opening into a cavity or canal, especially one through which contents are discharged.

vent (věnt) Pronunciation Key

An opening, and the conduit leading to it, in the side or at the top of a volcano, permitting the escape of fumes, a liquid, a gas, or steam.
1. The excretory opening of the digestive tract in animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Also called cloaca.
2. See cloaca.

vent

In addition to the idiom beginning with vent, also see give vent to.

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