Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Vent?

\Vent\, n. [F. vente, fr. L. vendere, -itum, to sell; perh. confused with E. vent an opening. See {Vend}.] Sale; opportunity to sell; market. [Obs.] --Shelton. There is no vent for any commodity but of wool. --Sir W. Temple.
\Vent\, v. t. To sell; to vend. [Obs.] Therefore did those nations vent such spice. --Sir W. Raleigh.
\Vent\, n. [Sp. venta a poor inn, sale, market. See {Vent} sale.] A baiting place; an inn. [Obs.]
\Vent\, v. i. [Cf. F. venter to blow, vent wind (see {Ventilate}); but prob influenced by E. vent an opening.] To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort. [Obs.] --Spenser.
\Vent\, n. [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. --Shak. Long't was doubtful, both so closely pent, Which first should issue from the narrow vent. --Pope. 2. Specifically: (a) (Zo["o]l.) 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. --Shak. {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} (Zo["o]l.), 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 {Bush}, n., 2. (b) A breech block.
\Vent\, v. 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 complaint. The 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 vent. a mold.