vein

A small tube in your body that carries blood back to your heart.

• The nurse found a vein in my arm.
• Blue veins showed through his pale skin.
• This vein carries blood back to the heart.

Common phrases: arm vein, vein in something, inject into a vein

A particular subject or direction in a discussion or series of thoughts.

• She continued in the same vein.
• His next remark followed a similar vein of thought.
• In that vein, we should discuss the cost.

How to use it: in the same/a similar vein (He continued speaking in the same vein.)

Similar words: line of thought

Common phrases: in that vein, in similar vein, same vein

A particular style, mood, or quality in something someone says, writes, or does.

• The story begins in a humorous vein.
• Her later poems have a darker vein.
• He spoke in a more serious vein.

How to use it: in a ... vein (She described the trip in a humorous vein.)

Similar words: style, tone

Common phrases: humorous vein, satirical vein, in a vein

A thin line inside a leaf that carries water and food through it.

• Each leaf has a central vein.
• Fine veins spread across the leaf.
• Water travels through the veins of the plant’s leaves.

Common phrases: leaf vein, central vein, vein in something

A narrow crack or hollow space in rock, earth, or another material.

• Water seeped through a vein in the rock.
• The survey revealed several empty veins beneath the surface.
• A narrow vein opened between the layers of stone.

Similar words: fissure, cleft

Common phrases: narrow vein, vein in rock, deep vein