Definition

1. Noun:
   • A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body: In anatomy, an artery is a muscular, elastic tube that transports oxygenated blood (except for the pulmonary artery) from the heart to the tissues and organs of the body.
   • A major thoroughfare that bears important traffic: By figurative extension, an artery refers to a principal channel, route, or passageway in a transportation or communication system, vital for movement and connection.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Anatomical):
  • The coronary artery supplies blood to the heart muscle itself.
  • A blockage in an artery can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
• Noun (Figurative/Transportation):
  • The highway serves as a major economic artery for the region.
  • The river was the main commercial artery of the ancient empire.

Advanced Usage

• "to harden the arteries": This phrase can be used literally to describe arteriosclerosis (a medical condition) or figuratively to describe the stiffening or obstruction of vital channels.
  • A diet high in fat can harden the arteries over time. (Literal)
  • Bureaucracy has hardened the arteries of innovation in the company. (Figurative)

Variants and Related Words

• Arterial (adj): Pertaining to or resembling an artery.
  • The city's arterial roads are always congested during rush hour.
• Arteriole (n): A small branch of an artery leading into capillaries.
• Arteriogram (n): An X-ray image of an artery.

Synonyms

• Blood vessel (for the anatomical sense, though this is a broader category including veins and capillaries).
• Conduit, channel, trunk line, main line (for the figurative sense of a major route).

Related Phrases

• Artery of communication: A vital line for transmitting information.
  • The telegraph line was the primary artery of communication across the continent.
• Economic artery: A crucial route for trade and commerce.
  • The new rail link is expected to become the country's main economic artery.

Related Idioms

• Lifeblood / Arteries of life: While not containing the word "artery," this idiom conveys a similar figurative meaning of something essential for survival or function.
  • Tourism is the lifeblood of the coastal towns. (Compare to: Tourism is an economic artery for the coastal towns.)

Noun

1. a major thoroughfare that bears important traffic
2. a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body