/ veɪn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] any of the tubes that carry blood from all parts of the body towards the heart :
the jugular vein
—compare artery
—see also deep vein thrombosis , varicose vein
2.
[ C ] any of the very thin tubes that form the frame of a leaf or an insect's wing
3.
[ C ] a narrow strip of a different colour in some types of stone, wood and cheese
4.
[ C ] a thin layer of minerals or metal contained in rock :
a vein of gold
SYN seam
5.
[ sing. ] vein (of sth) an amount of a particular quality or feature in sth :
They had tapped a rich vein of information in his secretary.
6.
[ sing. , U ] a particular style or manner :
A number of other people commented in a similar vein .
'And that's not all,' he continued in angry vein.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French veine , from Latin vena . The earliest senses were blood vessel and small natural underground channel of water .