blood-vessel

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tubular structure in the body: A "blood-vessel" is any of the tubes through which blood circulates in the body, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The surgeon carefully repaired the damaged blood-vessel to restore circulation. (A tube that carries blood in the body.)
  • High blood pressure can weaken a blood-vessel over time. (A tubular structure in the circulatory system.)

Advanced Usage

• "to burst a blood-vessel": to rupture a blood-vessel, often due to strain or injury.

  • He burst a blood-vessel in his eye from coughing too hard. (A small blood-vessel broke, causing redness.)

• "blood-vessel disease": any condition that affects the blood-vessels, such as atherosclerosis.

  • Regular exercise can help prevent blood-vessel disease. (A disorder of the circulatory tubes.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blood vessel (n): an alternative spelling (two words), identical in meaning.

  • The doctor examined the blood vessel for blockages. (Same as blood-vessel.)

• Vascular (adj): relating to or containing blood-vessels.

  • The vascular system includes all the blood-vessels in the body. (Pertaining to blood-vessels.)

Synonyms

• Artery: a large blood-vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
• Vein: a blood-vessel that carries blood toward the heart.
• Capillary: a tiny blood-vessel that connects arteries and veins.

Related Idioms

• No idiom directly includes "blood-vessel", but the phrase "to have a heart of gold" relates to the heart, a major organ connected to blood-vessels, though it is not synonymous.