VENT, n. L. venio, Eng. wind, &c.; properly a passage.

1. A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or other fluid to escape; as the vent of a cask.

2. The opening in a cannon or other piece of artillery, by which fire is communicated to the charge.

3. Passage from secrecy to notice; publication.

4. The act of opening.

5. Emission; passage; escape from confinement; as, his smothered passions urge for vent.

6. Discharge; utterance; means of discharge.

Had like grief been dew'd in tears, without the vent of words -;

7. Sale; as the vent of a thousand copies of a treatise.

8. Opportunity to sell; demand.

There is no vent for any commodity except wool.

9. An inn, a baiting place. Not in use.

To give vent to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth.

VENT, v.t.

1. To let out at a small aperture.

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

The queen of heav'n did thus her fury vent.

3. To utter; to report. Not in use.

4. To publish.

The sectators did greatly enrich their inventions by venting the stolen treasures of divine letters. Not used.

5. To sell.

Therefore did those nations vent such spice. Not in use.

Instead of vent in the latter sense, we use vend.

VENT, v.i. To snuff. Not in use.