vane
Pluralvanes
Often confused with vain and vein
- 1A pointer that turns in the wind to show which way it is blowing.
The vane on the barn roof pointed east all morning.
Grandpa looked up at the vane to see where the wind was coming from.
Similarweathercock
Note
- 2One of the blades around the center of a turbine or windmill that air or water pushes, or that pushes them.
The wind turned the vanes of the old windmill.
A worker replaced a broken vane in the water pump.
Similarblade
- 3The flat part of a feather that grows out on both sides of its center stem.
The bird's feather had a torn vane on one side.
She stroked the vane of the feather until it lay smooth again.
Note
- 4One of the metal fins at the back of a bomb or rocket that keep it flying straight.
The old bomb still had one metal vane on its tail.
The rocket's vanes help it fly in a straight line.
Similarfin
Note
- 5A small part on a compass or sextant that you look along to aim it.
He looked through the vane on his compass to find the hill.
The sailor lined up both vanes with the tower.
Similarsight
Note
Practice
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Origin
From an Old English word meaning "cloth", "banner" or "flag".