to take vent

1 definition found

to take vent - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Vent \Vent\ (v[e^]nt), 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.
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              Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents. --Shak.
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              Long 't was doubtful, both so closely pent,
              Which first should issue from the narrow vent.
                                                    --Pope.
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     2. Specifically: 
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        (a) (Zool.) The anal opening of certain invertebrates and
            fishes; also, the external cloacal opening of
            reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many fishes.
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        (b) (Gun.) The opening at the breech of a firearm, through
            which fire is communicated to the powder of the
            charge; touchhole.
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        (c) (Steam Boilers) Sectional area of the passage for
            gases divided by the length of the same passage in
            feet.
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     3. Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or
        privacy; outlet.
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     4. Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression;
        publication; utterance.
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              Without the vent of words.            --Milton.
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              Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel.
                                                    --Shak.
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     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.
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