(a) (Zoöl.) The anal opening of certain invertebrates and fishes; also,
the external cloacal opening of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many
fishes.
(b) (Gun.) The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire
is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole.
(c) (Steam Boilers) Sectional area of the passage for gases divided by
the length of the same passage in feet.
3. Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy;
outlet.
4. Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication;
utterance.
Without the vent of words.
Milton.
Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel.
Shak.
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 (Zoöl.), 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.
Vent, 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.
2. To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to pour
forth; as, to vent passion or complaint.
The queen of heaven did thus her fury vent.
Dryden.