1. blood vein (medicine)

2. pulse (medicine)

3. personal energy (by extension)

4. strategically crucial area of the board (by extension, board games)

5. context (by extension)

6. something resembling a blood vessel-like network

a. mineral vein (geology)

b. flow of geomantic power through mountain ranges (feng shui)

c. vein of a leaf (botany)

7. tapir (animal)

8. a mythological beast somewhat resembling a tapir (original meaning)