Vent , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vented;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Venting.]
1. To let out at a vent, or small aperture; to give passage or outlet to.
2. To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to pour forth; as, to vent passion or complaint.
The queen of heaven did
thus her fury vent.
Dryden. 3. To utter; to report; to publish. [Obs.]
By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies.
Milton. Thou hast framed and vented very curious
orations.
Barrow.
4. To scent, as a hound. [Obs.] Turbervile.
5. To furnish with a vent; to make a vent in; as, to vent. a mold.
Vent (?), n. [OE.
fent, fente, a slit,
F. fente a slit, cleft, fissure, from fendre to split, L.
findere; but probably
confused with F. vent wind, L. ventus. See Fissure, and cf. Vent to snuff.]
1. A
small aperture; a hole or passage for air or any fluid to escape; as, the vent of a cask; the vent of a mold; a volcanic vent.
Look, how thy
wounds do bleed at many vents.
Shak. Long't was doubtful, both so closely pent,
Which first should issue from the narrow vent.
Pope. 2. Specifically: --
(a) (Zoöl.) The anal opening of certain invertebrates and
fishes; also, the external cloacal opening of reptiles, birds,
amphibians, and many
fishes.
(b) (Gun.) The opening at the breech of
a firearm, through which fire is communicated to the powder
of the charge; touchhole.
(c) (Steam Boilers)
Sectional area of the passage for gases divided by the length of
the same passage in feet.
3. Fig.: Opportunity of escape or
passage from confinement or privacy; outlet.
4. Emission; escape; passage to notice or
expression; publication; utterance.
Without the vent of words.
Milton. Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel.
Shak. To give vent
to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth; as, to give
vent to anger. -- To take vent, to escape; to
be made public. [R.] -- Vent feather (Zoöl.), one of the anal, or crissal, feathers of a bird.
-- Vent field (Gun.), a flat raised surface around a vent. -- Vent piece. (Gun.) (a) A bush. See 4th
Bush, n.,
2. (b) A breech block.
Vent , v. i. [Cf. F. venter to blow, vent wind (see Ventilate); but prob
influenced by E. vent an opening.]
To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort. [Obs.] Spenser.
Vent , n. [Sp.
venta a poor inn, sale, market. See Vent sale.]
A baiting place; an inn. [Obs.]
Vent , v. t. To sell; to vend. [Obs.]
Therefore did those nations vent such spice.
Sir W. Raleigh.
Vent (?), n. [F. vente, fr. L. vendere,
-itum, to sell; perh.
confused with E. vent an opening. See Vend.]
Sale; opportunity to sell; market. [Obs.]
Shelton.
There is no vent for any commodity but of wool.
Sir W. Temple.
Hear it pronounced