vein
gb/vˈeɪn/ us/vˈeɪn/
B2
English
~ 6700
véna, gyűjtőér, telér, ér, vonulat, hangnem, levélér
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s veins; a vein in [a body part]
The nurse had trouble finding a vein in his hand for the blood test.
A nővér nehezen talált vénát a kézfején a vérvételhez.
Regular exercise can improve blood flow through your veins and arteries.
A rendszeres testmozgás javíthatja a véráramlást a vénákban és az artériákban.
A blue vein stood out on his forehead when he shouted.
They took blood directly from a vein in her arm.
The surgeon discovered a clot in the main vein leading from his leg.
Learner examples
The doctor put the medicine into a vein in my arm.
Az orvos a karomban lévő vénába adta a gyógyszert.
You can see the veins in his hands when he lifts heavy things.
Látszanak a vénák a kézfején, amikor nehéz dolgokat emel.
The nurse looked for a good vein before taking blood.
Her veins are easy to see under her skin.
Blood moves through your veins back to your heart.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the spelling and meaning of "vein" with "vain" (too proud) and "vane" (a flat blade that turns in the wind). They may also think a vein is any blood vessel; in fact, it specifically carries blood toward the heart, while arteries carry blood away from the heart.
Meaning
blood vessel returning blood
Collocations
varicose veins
|a vein in his arm
|inject into a vein
|blocked vein
|bulging neck veins
|find a vein
Synonyms
blood vessel (More general; includes veins, arteries, and capillaries, not just veins.)
Antonyms
artery (An artery carries blood away from the heart, often contrasted with a vein which carries blood toward the heart.)
Themes
medicine
|biology
|health
|body
|science
Definition
A thin tube in the body that carries blood back to the heart.
A thin, tube-like blood vessel that carries blood from the body back toward the heart in humans and other animals.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
a vein of [substance] in [material]
The miners discovered a rich vein of gold deep underground.
A bányászok egy gazdag aranytelért fedeztek fel mélyen a föld alatt.
Thin veins of quartz ran through the dark granite cliff.
Vékony kvarctelérek húzódtak a sötét gránitsziklában.
They followed the coal vein for several kilometers through the mountain.
Light veins in the marble gave the floor a unique pattern.
Geologists mapped the copper veins in the surrounding hills.
Learner examples
The rock had a white vein of quartz inside it.
A kő belsejében egy fehér kvarcér húzódott.
Miners were happy when they found a new vein of gold.
A bányászok örültek, amikor új aranytelért találtak.
You can see dark veins in this piece of marble.
The coal veins in this area are very deep.
They dug into the hill and hit a silver vein.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the medical sense and try to use it for lines on the body or on leaves. In geology, a "vein" is specifically a natural line or layer of a different material inside rock or stone, not a blood vessel.
Meaning
thin mineral layer in rock
Collocations
a vein of gold
|a vein of quartz
|rich veins of coal
|silver-bearing veins
|marble veins
|veins in the rock
Synonyms
seam (Usually used for layers of coal or mineral that are thicker and more sheet-like, while a vein is often thinner and more line-like.)
Themes
science
|nature
|geography
Definition
A long, thin line or layer of another material inside rock or stone, for example gold or quartz.
A long, narrow layer or line of mineral or other material that is different from the surrounding rock, wood, or stone and runs through it.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
a vein of [quality]; in the same/similar vein
The movie is funny, but there is a dark vein of sadness running through it.
A film vicces, de egy sötét, szomorú vonulat is végighúzódik rajta.
His speech continued in the same optimistic vein as his earlier remarks.
Beszéde ugyanabban a derűlátó hangnemben folytatódott, mint a korábbi megjegyzései.
There was a vein of anger in her voice that worried me.
Most of their songs are in a nostalgic vein.
Despite the jokes, the article has a serious vein of criticism.
Learner examples
There is a strong vein of humor in the book.
A könyvben erős humoros vonulat érezhető.
The teacher spoke in a serious vein today.
A tanár ma komoly hangnemben beszélt.
Her letters always have a kind vein in them.
The article is in the same vein as his last one.
I noticed a vein of anger in his comments.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use "vein" to talk about feelings directly (e.g., *"I am in a vein"*). In this sense, it is used with nouns like "a vein of humor" or in fixed phrases like "in the same vein" or "in a serious vein" to talk about the style, mood, or quality of something said or done, not about a simple emotion by itself.
Meaning
particular style, mood, or quality
Collocations
a vein of humor
|a vein of sadness
|a vein of anger
|in the same vein
|in a serious vein
|a vein of optimism
Synonyms
tone (Focuses more on the overall emotional sound or attitude, especially in speech or writing, while "vein" suggests a noticeable line or thread of a quality running through something.)
|
streak (Very similar figurative use; "streak" emphasizes a hidden, sometimes surprising quality in a person, while "vein" is used more about speech, behavior, or works.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|art
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A clear feeling, style, or quality that you can notice in what someone says, does, or makes.
A particular style, mood, or quality that is clearly present in something, especially in a person’s words, behavior, or creative work.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
the veins of [a leaf/wing]
The veins of the leaf were clearly visible in the sunlight.
A levél erei jól látszottak a napfényben.
Water moves through the leaf veins to reach every part of the plant.
A víz a levélereken keresztül jut el a növény minden részébe.
The fine veins in the butterfly’s wings looked like tiny threads.
She drew each vein carefully to make the leaf look realistic.
Damage to the main vein of the leaf caused it to turn brown.
Learner examples
You can see many veins on this leaf.
Sok ér látszik ezen a levélen.
The veins carry water in the leaf.
Az erek vizet szállítanak a levélben.
The insect’s wings have very thin veins.
He colored the leaf and then drew the veins.
The central vein of the leaf is very strong.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this sense is completely different from the blood-vessel sense. In fact, the word is used similarly: veins in leaves and wings also carry fluid or give support. However, this sense is mostly used in scientific or descriptive contexts, not in everyday conversation.
Meaning
line in leaf or insect wing
Collocations
leaf veins
|the veins of a leaf
|wing veins
|central vein
|fine veins
|network of veins
Synonyms
rib (In botany, a "rib" can refer to a main supporting vein in a leaf; more technical and less commonly used in everyday language than "vein".)
Themes
biology
|nature
|science
|animals
Definition
A thin line you can see in a leaf or insect wing that carries fluid or helps it keep its shape.
One of the thin lines of tissue that form a network in a leaf or insect wing, carrying fluid or giving it structure and support.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vein
IPA
GB/vˈeɪn/
US/vˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
vein (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (vein)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: vein
- Plural: veins
Word family
Forms
veins
noun
Core family
veiny
adjective
veined
adjective
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
veinless
adjective
Expressions
a vein of truth
1/ə vˈeɪn əv tɹˈuθ/
fixed phrase
a small real part of truth
Used to say that something is not completely true, but part of it is true.
Examples
- There is a vein of truth in what she says, even if her story is exaggerated.
- His joke had a vein of truth that made everyone a little uncomfortable.
- Rumors often contain a vein of truth mixed with many lies.
in a similar vein
1/ˈɪn ə sˈɪmɪlɚ vˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
also in a similar way
In a way that is like, or close to, what was just said or done.
Examples
- In a similar vein, the report calls for more support for teachers.
- Her latest film, in a similar vein to her earlier work, focuses on family relationships.
- Several comments, in a similar vein, criticized the lack of clear data.
in the same vein
1/ˈɪn ðə sˈeɪm vˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
in a similar style or way
In a way that is very similar to what was just said or done.
Examples
- His new book is in the same vein as his first bestseller.
- In the same vein, several other studies have reached similar conclusions.
- She followed up with another joke in the same vein.
strike a rich vein of
1/stɹˈaɪk ə ɹˈɪt͡ʃ vˈeɪn əv/
fixed phrase
find a very valuable source
To find a very good and large source of something useful, enjoyable, or valuable.
Examples
- The company struck a rich vein of new customers through social media.
- The researchers struck a rich vein of data in the old archives.
- The writer has struck a rich vein of material in her own childhood memories.