Reading Theme:
Artery Definition, Usage, and Key Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：main blood vessel (artery)
artery
/ˈɑːrtəri/
n.
One of the main tubes that carries blood full of oxygen from your heart to all parts of your body.
main blood vessel
➕
/meɪn blʌd ˈvesl/
n.
A large, muscular blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to other parts of the body.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Greek 'artēria' (windpipe, artery) via Latin 'arteria'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of an ARTery as a major road for blood, like a piece of ART in your body's transport system.
📖 Example
The doctor explained that a blockage in the main artery to his heart required a stent to keep it open.
The doctor explained that a blockage in the main artery to his heart required a stent to keep it open.
🔗 Collocations
coronary artery – An artery supplying blood to the heart muscle itself.
artery wall – The layered structure of tissue forming an artery.
artery blockage – An obstruction preventing normal blood flow in an artery.
🔄 Synonyms
aorta (n.) – The main and largest artery in the body, originating from the heart.
blood vessel (n.) – A general term for any tube in the body that carries blood (includes arteries, veins, capillaries).
vascular conduit (n.) – A formal term for a tube that carries blood or other body fluids.
🚫 Antonyms
vein (n.) – A blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart, usually deoxygenated.
🌱 Derivatives
arterial (adj.) – Relating to or affecting an artery or arteries.
📖 Cultural Story
In ancient Greece, arteries were thought to carry air ('pneuma'), not blood, as they were found empty in corpses. The term was later adopted into medical Latin, solidifying its anatomical meaning.
Meaning 2：major transportation route (artery)
artery
/ˈɑːrtəri/
n.
A major road, railway, or river that is like a main route for traffic, connecting important places.
major transportation route
➕
/ˈmeɪdʒər ˌtrænspərˈteɪʃn ruːt/
n.
A major road, railway line, river, or other route that forms a crucial channel for the movement of people, goods, or resources.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The new highway serves as a vital economic artery, linking the airport directly to the city center.
The new highway serves as a vital economic artery, linking the airport directly to the city center.
🔗 Collocations
economic artery – A major transportation route crucial for trade and commerce.
traffic artery – A primary road that carries a large volume of vehicles.
main artery – The principal route in a network of roads or transportation.
🔄 Synonyms
thoroughfare (n.) – A main road or public highway, especially one that is busy with through traffic.
highway (n.) – A main road, especially one connecting major towns or cities.
corridor (n.) – A route or passage along which something moves, especially a strip of land for transportation.
🚫 Antonyms
dead end (n.) – A street or passage that is closed at one end, not serving as a through route.
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