Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Vent
Vent
(vĕnt)
, Noun.
Sale; opportunity to sell; market.
[Obs.]
Shelton.
There is no
vent
for any commodity but of wool. Sir W. Temple.
Vent
,Verb.
T.
To sell; to vend.
[Obs.]
Therefore did those nations
vent
such spice. Sir W. Raleigh.
Vent
,Verb.
I.
To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
Vent
(vĕnt)
, Noun.
[OE.
fent
, fente
, a slit, F. fente
a slit, cleft, fissure, from fendre
to split, L. findere
; but probably confused with F. vent
wind, L. ventus
. See Fissure
, and cf. Vent
to snuff.] 1.
A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or any fluid to escape;
as, the
vent
of a cask; the vent
of a mold; a volcanic vent
.Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many
vents
. Shakespeare
Long ’t was doubtful, both so closely pent,
Which first should issue from the narrow
Which first should issue from the narrow
vent
. Pope.
2.
Specifically: –(a)
(Zool.)
The anal opening of certain invertebrates and fishes; also, the external cloacal opening of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many fishes.
(b)
(Gun.)
The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole.
(c)
(Steam Boilers)
Sectional area of the passage for gases divided by the length of the same passage in feet.
3.
Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy; outlet.
4.
Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication; utterance.
Without the
vent
of words. Milton.
Thou didst make tolerable
vent
of thy travel. Shakespeare
To give vent to
, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth; as, to give vent to anger.
– To take vent
, to escape; to be made public.
[R.]
– Vent feather
(Zool.)
, one of the anal, or crissal, feathers of a bird.
– Vent field
(Gun.)
, a flat raised surface around a vent.
– Vent piece
. (Gun.)
(a)
A bush. See 4th , 2.
Bush
, Noun.
(b)
A breech block.
Vent
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Vented
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Venting
.] 1.
To let out at a vent, or small aperture; to give passage or outlet to.
2.
To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to pour forth;
as, to
. vent
passion or complaintThe queen of heaven did thus her fury
vent
. Dryden.
3.
To utter; to report; to publish.
[Obs.]
By mixing somewhat true to
vent
more lies. Milton.
Thou hast framed and
vented
very curious orations. Barrow.
4.
To scent, as a hound.
[Obs.]
Turbervile.
5.
To furnish with a vent; to make a vent in;
as, to
. a mold. vent
Webster 1828 Edition
Vent
VENT
,Noun.
1.
A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or other fluid to escape; as the vent of a cask.2.
The opening in a cannon or other piece of artillery, by which fire is communicated to the charge.3.
Passage from secrecy to notice; publication.4.
The act of opening.5.
Emission; passage; escape from confinement; as, his smothered passions urge for vent.6.
Discharge; utterance; means of discharge.Had like grief been dew'd in tears, without the vent of words -;
7.
Sale; as the vent of a thousand copies of a treatise.8.
Opportunity to sell; demand.There is no vent for any commodity except wool.
9.
An inn, a baiting place. [Not in use.]To give vent to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth.
VENT
,Verb.
T.
1.
To let out at a small aperture.2.
To let out; to suffer to escape from confinement; to utter; to pour forth; as, to vent passion or complaint.The queen of heav'n did thus her fury vent.
3.
To utter; to report. [Not in use.]4.
To publish.The sectators did greatly enrich their inventions by venting the stolen treasures of divine letters. [Not used.]
5.
To sell.Therefore did those nations vent such spice. [Not in use.]
[Instead of vent in the latter sense, we use vend.
VENT
,Verb.
I.