I. (ˈ)är|tirēəl, (ˈ)ȧ|-, -tēr- adjective
Etymology: Middle French arterial, arteriel, from (assumed) Medieval Latin arterialis, from Latin arteria + -alis -al
1.
a. : of or relating to an artery or arteries
the arterial system
b. : relating to the bright red blood present in most arteries and a few veins that has been oxygenated and arterialized during passage through lungs or gills — compare pulmonary vein , venous
2. : of, relating to, or constituting through-traffic facilities
newly widened arterial avenues — Duncan Aikman
its tributaries form the arterial system of the continent — W.W.Huggett
• ar·te·ri·al·ly -rēəlē, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: a through street or arterial highway