vessel

Everyday

1. A ship or large boat. tree →
2. A container for liquids, like a cup, bowl, jug or barrel (old-fashioned or formal). tree →
3. A tube that carries blood around the body: a blood vessel (arteries, veins and capillaries). tree →
4. A tube that carries water and food in a plant. tree →

In the lessons

In science it is mostly used for blood vessels: the heart pumps blood through vessels to every part of the body. In history and stories a vessel is a ship. In science experiments, a container is sometimes called a vessel. Phrases: blood vessel, sailing vessel, fishing vessel, a vessel of water.

Examples

• The fishing vessel came back to the harbour full of fish. tree →
• Blood vessels carry blood all around your body. tree →
• A bruise happens when tiny blood vessels break under the skin. tree →
• The museum has ancient clay vessels for oil and wine. tree →
• The captain steered the vessel through the storm. tree →
• Veins are the vessels that carry blood back to the heart. tree →
• Plants have vessels that carry water from the roots to the leaves. tree →
• Meanwhile the young man’s vessel reached home in safety. tree →

Note

Countable: a vessel, vessels. In everyday talk people say «ship», «boat» or «container»; «vessel» sounds more formal or scientific. Three kinds of blood vessels: arteries (away from the heart), veins (back to the heart), capillaries (tiny ones between).

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, a vessel is any holy or household tool or container, such as the Tabernacle's table utensils or a clay pot. It could also become unclean. The prophets and writings also use it for the gold and silver utensils of the Temple, for ships, and for a person as a picture, such as a broken vessel nobody wants.

Interpretation. The law says that some vessels can take on uncleanness, and that an open vessel without a lid becomes unclean near a dead body. The Tabernacle's vessels were made with great care and used in the service. The Temple vessels taken to Babylon and brought back under Cyrus were seen as holy and returned to their place.

Examples

• the table, all the vessels thereof, and the showbread; (Torah EXO.39.36, JPS 1917) tree →
• the table, and its staves, and all its vessels, and the showbread; (Torah EXO.35.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• And every open vessel, which hath no covering close-bound upon it, is unclean. (Torah NUM.19.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• Is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? (Prophets JER.22.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. (Writings EZR.1.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters! (Prophets ISA.18.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a vessel, vessels. In everyday talk people say «ship», «boat» or «container»; «vessel» sounds more formal or scientific. Three kinds of blood vessels: arteries (away from the heart), veins (back to the heart), capillaries (tiny ones between).