vent
vent
/vent/
1 an opening that allows air, gas or liquid to pass out of or into a room, building, container, etc.
air/heating vents
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Collocations
adjective
verb + vent
preposition
through a/the vent
2 (specialist) the opening in the body of a bird, fish, reptile or other small animal, through which waste matter is passed out
3 a long, thin opening at the bottom of the back or side of a coat or jacket
vent
/vent/
to express feelings, especially anger, strongly
vent something (on somebody) He vented his anger on the referee.
She vented her spleen (= shouted in an angry way) on the assembled crowd.
vent (about something) She vented for two minutes about work and her boss.
She talked with me whenever I needed to vent.
e.g.
Word Origin
noun senses 1 to 2 late Middle English: partly from French vent ‘wind’, from Latin ventus, reinforced by French évent, from éventer ‘expose to air’, based on Latin ventus ‘wind’. noun sense 3 late Middle English: alteration of dialect fent, from Old French fente ‘slit’, based on Latin findere ‘cleave’.
verb late Middle English: partly from French vent ‘wind’, from Latin ventus, reinforced by French évent, from éventer ‘expose to air’, based on Latin ventus ‘wind’.