external jugular vein
noun · n
Simple meaning
Formed by the junction of the posterior auricular and the retromandibular veins.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
ihksturnuhljoogyuhlervaynSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ɪksˈtɝnəlˈdʒuɡjəlɚˈveɪn
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Formed by the junction of the posterior auricular and the retromandibular veins; empties into the subclavian vein
n
The external jugular vein receives the greater part of the blood from the exterior of the cranium and the deep parts of the face, being formed by the junction of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein with the posterior auricular vein.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Formed by the junction of the posterior auricular and the retromandibular veins; empties into the subclavian vein
Used this way, external jugular vein is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It turns up most in technical or specialist writing contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Technical/specialist writing
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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