aorta

noun

aor·​ta ā-ˈȯr-tə How to pronounce aorta (audio)
plural aortas or aortae ā-ˈȯr-tē How to pronounce aorta (audio)
: the great arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the body see heart illustration
aortic
ā-ˈȯr-tik How to pronounce aorta (audio)
adjective

Examples of aorta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ideal positioning of the IABP balloon is below the subclavian artery that branches off the aorta in the chest, but above the renal arteries that branch off the aorta in the abdomen. —Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024 This device uses a balloon that's placed in the aorta, inflating and deflating with each heartbeat to enhance blood flow. —Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024 The aortic valve, which allows blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, the body’s largest artery. —Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024 The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood to the aorta (the body's main artery), which delivers it to vital organs. —Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aorta 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin, borrowed from Greek aortḗ "aorta, bronchial tubes (in plural aortaí), knapsack," nominal derivative from the stem of aeírein "to join, attach, harness," of uncertain origin

Note: The word appears earlier as Middle English aborchi, abhorti, adorte "aorta," comparable with Middle French aborthi and Medieval Latin adorti; these forms most likely reflect Latin translation of the Arabic versions of Greek medical texts. — The Greek medical term aortḗ belongs to a small set of forms based on aeírein that refer to both attachment and suspension, as áōrto "was hung" ("[máchaira]… pàr xípheos méga kouleón aeìn áōrto" - "[the knife]… was always hung beside the great sheath of his sword"—Iliad 3, 272), aortḗr "belt or strap for hanging a sword or satchel," and aórtēs "knapsack." Perhaps the aorta was pictured as an organ attached to and suspended from the heart in the way a scabbard is hung from a belt. Note that the verb aeírein displays two sets of meanings, that of harnessing and attachment (outside of nominal derivation almost always with the prefix syn- syn-) and of lifting or raising. Whether or not these should be regarded as two verbs of distinct origin or as semantic branches of the same verb is unclear. Though an Indo-European verb base *h2u̯er- can be reconstructed from the Greek evidence, there appear to be no definitely comparable forms outside Greek. See also artery, meteor.

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aorta was in 1543

Phrases Containing aorta

Dictionary Entries Near aorta

aort-

aorta

aortic arch

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Aorta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aorta. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

aorta

noun
aor·​ta ā-ˈȯrt-ə How to pronounce aorta (audio)
plural aortas or aortae -ˈȯrt-ē How to pronounce aorta (audio)
: the main artery that carries blood from the heart to branch arteries by which it is carried throughout the body
aortic
-ˈȯrt-ik How to pronounce aorta (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

aorta

noun
aor·​ta ā-ˈȯrt-ə How to pronounce aorta (audio)
plural aortas or aortae -ē How to pronounce aorta (audio)
: the large arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the body

More from Merriam-Webster on aorta

Nglish: Translation of aorta for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of aorta for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aorta

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Giving Thanks Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...