Synonyms for

Veins

Verb / veɪnz / Another word for veins — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart.

Synonyms & similar words

vena vein venousbloodvessel nervure mineralvein capillaries arteries pulses veinlets venules ducts channels pipelines tubes conduits vessels arterioles sinusoids vasculature veneer web mesh texture

Synonyms by register

Formal

venules vascular channels

Informal

tubes lines channels

Literary

lifeblood channels circulatory paths

Antonyms

arteries arterials arterioles capillaries vessels

Common collocations

  • blood veins
  • veins of the hand
  • veins of the leg
  • dilated veins
  • ruptured veins
  • veins of a leaf
  • veins of marble

Word family

noun vein
verb vein
adjective veinal

Usage note

In anatomy, 'veins' specifically refer to vessels carrying deoxygenated blood towards the heart, contrasting with 'arteries' which carry oxygenated blood away. Figuratively, 'veins' can refer to lines or patterns.

Example sentences

  1. The doctor used a stethoscope to listen to the veins in my arm.
  2. The spider's web looked like a network of veins.
  3. The blue veins in the marble countertop were very striking.
  4. She had varicose veins that made her legs ache.
  5. The blood clot was blocking a vein in his lung.

Quotes

  • The veins of men are like their leaves, they wither and die. - Thomas Otway
  • The veins of a business are the channels through which its life-blood flows. - Andrew Carnegie
  • The veins are nature's highways; by them she carries to each part of the body the materials for its growth and repair. - William Harvey

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