vein
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vein
A blood vessel in the body of humans or animals that carries blood back to the heart. Colloquially, it is often used for any blood vessel.
Bei der Blutspende wird die Nadel vorsichtig in eine Ader am Arm eingeführt.
During blood donation, the needle is carefully inserted into a vein in the arm.
The meaning of 'Ader' is easy to recognize from context. If it is about the body, it means a blood vessel. If it is about talents, it means a gift or talent. If it is about materials like stone or wood, it means a layer or vein.
Die Krankenschwester fand sofort eine passende Ader für die Blutabnahme.
The nurse immediately found a suitable vein for taking blood.
In the meaning 'Begabung' (talent), 'Ader' is almost always combined with an adjective (e.g. 'künstlerische' (artistic), 'soziale' (social)) and the verb 'haben' (to have). You can also say that someone 'eine Ader für etwas' (has a talent for something).
Er hat definitiv eine komische Ader, er bringt alle zum Lachen.
He definitely has a comic streak; he makes everyone laugh.
In the geological or material meaning, 'Ader' is often part of compound words. Examples are 'Goldader' (vein of gold), 'Erzader' (vein of ore), 'Wasserader' (underground water vein), or 'Marmorader' (marble vein).
Der alte Baum hatte eine dunkle Ader im Holz.
The old tree had a dark streak in the wood.
hallway / course / gear
'der Gang' and 'die Ader' can both refer to something long and narrow. The important difference is the area of use: a 'Gang' is a narrow space in a building that people walk through. An 'Ader' usually belongs to the body and carries blood; it can also be a narrow streak in stone or wood. The words can be confused because both can seem like a kind of narrow line or connection. For spaces in buildings, however, 'Gang' fits; for blood vessels or streaks in material, 'Ader' fits.
Nach dem Training sieht man an seinem Arm eine dicke Ader.
After training, you can see a thick vein on his arm.
Im langen Gang vor der Bibliothek warten mehrere Schüler.
Several students are waiting in the long hallway in front of the library.