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“Vain” or “Vane” or “Vein”

vain / vane / vein are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

vain v·EY·n

No dictionary entry for this spelling — see the usage examples below for how it shows up in writing.

vane v·EY·n

  • nouna fin attached to the tail of an arrow, bomb or missile in order to stabilize or guide it.
  • nounthe flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft.

vein v·EY·n

  • nouna blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart.
  • nouna distinctive style or manner.
  • nounany of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ.
  • nouna layer of ore between layers of rock.
  • nounone of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect.
  • verbmake a veinlike pattern.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“vain”

  • …south longitude, Krusenstern searched in vain for Ascension Island, the position…
  • …composer wrote an opera in vain") allegedly found in Lujo Šafranek-Kavić's…
  • …a student, had tried in vain for many years to prove…
  • …Ronald, did not die in vain.
  • Isabel's struggle was not in vain.
  • …wedding fixed again, but in vain.
  • …Gellar played a likewise ill-fated vain character, this time that of…
  • …slain by Dracula for her vain and gluttonous tyranny, Carmilla's ghost…
  • But Not in Vain (1948) – Minor Role (uncredited)
  • …the film, Howl, its most vain and selfish character, also learns…

“vane”

  • …same point on the horizon vane and sets the sighting vane…
  • The horizon vane has a slit or hole…
  • …the angle between the shadow vane and the sighting vane (B-A-C).
  • AIR STARTER LUBRICATION: All vane type air starters should have…
  • …under the pen name Violetta Vane.
  • Ray Hallor - Johnny Vane
  • Trial of Sir Henry Vane
  • …Kingdoms had dispatched Sir Henry Vane the Younger as commissioner to…
  • …opposition to this, and when Vane arrived on 9 June, they…
  • Vane Pursuit (1989)

“vein”

  • Artists in the vein include Erasmus Quellinus the Younger,…
  • …of intimal hyperplasia following a vein graft procedure.
  • Vein 10 and 11 stalked and…
  • …fed directly by the portal vein, whatever crosses the intestinal epithelium…
  • Vein 3 from near angle of…
  • In the same vein as above, it is important…
  • …the presence of a large vein of coal.
  • In the Kermesiinae, the claval veins fuse near the apex and…
  • …applied to the internal jugular vein.
  • …richness: "This monster gold bearing vein was 60% gold."

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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