n. & v.
--n.
1. a any of the tubes by which blood is conveyed to the heart (cf. ARTERY). b (in general use) any blood-vessel (has royal blood in his veins).
2 a nervure of an insect's wing.
3 a slender bundle of tissue forming a rib in the framework of a leaf.
4 a streak or stripe of a different colour in wood, marble, cheese, etc.
5 a fissure in rock filled with ore or other deposited material.
6 a source of a particular characteristic (a rich vein of humour).
7 a distinctive character or tendency; a cast of mind or disposition; a mood (spoke in a sarcastic vein).
--v.tr. fill or cover with or as with veins.
Derivatives:
veinless n. veinlet n. veinlike adj. veiny adj. (veinier, veiniest).
Etymology: ME f. OF veine f. L vena