trachea

noun

tra·​chea ˈtrā-kē-ə How to pronounce trachea (audio)
plural tracheae ˈtrā-kē-ˌē How to pronounce trachea (audio)
-kē-ˌī
also tracheas or trachea
1
: the main trunk of the system of tubes by which air passes to and from the lungs in vertebrates
2
[New Latin, from Medieval Latin] : vessel sense 3b
also : one of its constituent cellular elements
3
[New Latin] : one of the air-conveying tubules forming the respiratory system of most insects and many other arthropods
tracheal adjective

Examples of trachea 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.
When food or other foreign material enters your trachea (windpipe), the condition is called aspiration. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024 According to the Calgary Zoo in Calgary, Alberta, Baffin, a 7-year-old male polar bear, died by drowning following a crushing injury to his trachea by Siku, an 8-year-old male polar bear. Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 26 July 2024 The doctor's initial assessment was that Reese might have the croup (larynx and trachea inflammation). Mia Taylor, Parents, 26 July 2024 Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections can cause inflammation and irritation in the structures of the throat, including the esophagus (food pipe), trachea (windpipe), and tonsils. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 13 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for trachea 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Late Latin trachia, from Greek tracheia (artēria) rough (artery), from feminine of trachys rough

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trachea was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near trachea

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

trachea

noun
tra·​chea ˈtrā-kē-ə How to pronounce trachea (audio)
plural tracheae -kē-ˌē How to pronounce trachea (audio)
-kē-ˌī
also tracheas or trachea
1
: the main part of the system of tubes by which air passes to and from the lungs in vertebrates

called also windpipe

2
: one of the tiny air-carrying tubes that form the respiratory system of most insects and many other land-dwelling arthropods (as spiders)
tracheal adjective

Medical Definition

trachea

noun
tra·​chea
ˈtrā-kē-ə, British also trə-ˈkē-ə
plural tracheae -kē-ˌē How to pronounce trachea (audio) also tracheas
: the main trunk of the system of tubes by which air passes to and from the lungs that is about four inches (10 centimeters) long and somewhat less than an inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter, extends down the front of the neck from the larynx, divides in two to form the bronchi, has walls of fibrous and muscular tissue stiffened by incomplete cartilaginous rings which keep it from collapsing, and is lined with mucous membrane whose epithelium is composed of columnar ciliated mucus-secreting cells

called also windpipe

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