vane and vein are homophones: they are pronounced identically and spelled differently, which is why they are so often swapped. vane means “mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind”. vein means “a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart”.
/ˈveɪn/
1.n.mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind
2.n.a fin attached to the tail of an arrow, bomb or missile in order to stabilize or guide it
3.n.flat surface that rotates and pushes against air or water
/ˈveɪn/
| vane | vein | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈveɪn/ | /ˈveɪn/ |
| Said | vayn | vayn |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 4 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | noun | noun, verb |
| Senses | 4 | 6 |
| How common | Familiar | Familiar |
| Synonyms | weathervane, weather vane, wind vane | vena, venous blood vessel |
Full entry for vane · Full entry for vein · More comparisons
1.n.a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
“all veins except the pulmonary vein carry unaerated blood”
2.n.a distinctive style or manner
“he continued in this vein for several minutes”
3.n.any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ