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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to pour forth; as, to vent passion or complaint. [ 1913 Webster ]

The queen of heaven did thus her fury vent. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To utter; to report; to publish. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou hast framed and vented very curious orations. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To scent, as a hound. [ Obs. ] Turbervile. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To furnish with a vent; to make a vent in; as, to vent. a mold. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Long 't was doubtful, both so closely pent,
Which first should issue from the narrow vent. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) (Zool.) The anal opening of certain invertebrates and fishes; also, the external cloacal opening of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many fishes. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) (Gun.) The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) (Steam Boilers) Sectional area of the passage for gases divided by the length of the same passage in feet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy; outlet. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication; utterance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without the vent of words. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Zool.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no vent for any commodity but of wool. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To sell; to vend. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Therefore did those nations vent such spice. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. venta a poor inn, sale, market. See Vent sale. ] A baiting place; an inn. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small hole, as the stop in a flute; a vent. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. ventaille, F. ventail. See Ventilate, and cf. Aventail. ] That part of a helmet which is intended for the admission of air, -- sometimes in the visor. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her ventail up so high that he descried
Her goodly visage and her beauty's pride. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who vents; one who utters, reports, or publishes. [ R. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] 1. (Anat.) (a) The belly; the abdomen; -- sometimes applied to any large cavity containing viscera. (b) The uterus, or womb. (c) A belly, or protuberant part; a broad surface; as, the venter of a muscle; the venter, or anterior surface, of the scapula. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The lower part of the abdomen in insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Rom. & O. E. Law) A pregnant woman; a mother; as, A has a son B by one venter, and a daughter C by another venter; children by different venters. [ 1913 Webster ]