vent

UK: /ˈvɛnt/ US: /vɛnt/ ,(vent)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

vent¹ /vɛnt/   n. 

1. Building [countable] an opening, as in a wall, that serves as an outlet for air, fumes, or the like.
2. expression;
   utterance;
   release:
   [uncountable] giving vent to one's emotions.

v. [~ + object]

3. to give free play or expression to (an emotion):
   venting frustration.
4. Building to release or give off (liquid, smoke, etc.):
   to vent smoke from the kitchen.

vent² /vɛnt/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing a slit in the back or side of a coat, jacket, or other garment.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

vent¹ (vent),  n. 

1. Building an opening, as in a wall, serving as an outlet for air, smoke, fumes, or the like.
2. Geology an opening at the earth's surface from which volcanic material, as lava, steam, or gas, is emitted.
3. [Zool.] the anal or excretory opening of animals, esp. of those below mammals, as birds and reptiles.
4. the small opening at the breech of a gun by which fire is communicated to the charge.
5. a means of exit or escape;
   an outlet, as from confinement.
6. expression;
   utterance;
   release:
   to give vent to one's emotions.
7. [Obs.] the act or fact of venting;
   emission or discharge.

v.t. 

8. to give free play or expression to (an emotion, passion, etc.):
   to vent rage.
9. to give public utterance to:
   to vent one's opinions.
10. to relieve by giving expression to something:
    He vented his disappointment by criticizing his successor.
11. Building to release or discharge (liquid, smoke, etc.).
12. Building to furnish or provide with a vent or vents.

v.i. 

13. to be relieved of pressure or discharged by means of a vent.
14. (of an otter or other animal) to rise to the surface of the water to breathe.

• French évent (Old French esvent, derivative of esventer), partly derivative of the English verb, verbal
• Latin ventus), partly by aphesis
• French vent (
• Latin ventus wind¹), in later use derivative of the English noun, nominal; (noun, nominal) partly
• Old French esventer (es- ex- + -venter, verb, verbal derivative of vent
• (verb, verbal) Middle English venten to furnish (a vessel) with a vent, by aphesis 1350–1400

vent′less, adj. 

vent² (vent), n. 

1. Clothing a slit in the back or side of a coat, jacket, or other garment, at the bottom part of a seam.

• Latin findere to split
• Middle French, derivative of fendre to slit
• 1400–50; late Middle English vente; replacing Middle English fente

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vent / vɛnt/ noun

1. a small opening for the passage or escape of fumes, liquids, etc
2. the shaft of a volcano or an aperture in the earth's crust through which lava and gases erupt
3. the external opening of the urinary or genital systems of lower vertebrates
4. a small aperture at the breech of old guns through which the charge was ignited
5. an exit, escape, or passage
6. give vent to ⇒ to release (an emotion, passion, idea, etc) in an utterance or outburst

verb (mainly tr)

1. to release or give expression or utterance to (an emotion, idea, etc): he vents his anger on his family
2. to provide a vent for or make vents in
3. to let out (steam, liquid, etc) through a vent

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French esventer to blow out, from ex-¹ + venter, from Vulgar Latin ventāre (unattested) to be windy, from Latin ventus wind

vent / vɛnt/ noun

1. a vertical slit at the back or both sides of a jacket

verb

1. (transitive) to make a vent or vents in (a jacket)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French fente slit, from fendre to split, from Latin findere to cleave