trachea
trachea Lexical Profile
trachea Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large membranous tube reinforced by rings of cartilage, extending from the larynx to the bronchial tubes and conveying air to and from the lungs; the windpipe.
"During the medical examination, the doctor checked to ensure there was no obstruction in the patient's trachea."
Any of the internal respiratory tubes of insects and some other terrestrial arthropods that conduct air directly from the spiracles to the tissues.
"Instead of lungs, insects rely on a branching network of tracheae to deliver oxygen throughout their bodies."
One of the water-conducting vessels or ducts in the xylem tissue of vascular plants, often reinforced with spiral or annular thickenings.
"Under the microscope, the spiral thickenings of the plant's tracheae looked remarkably similar to the cartilage rings of an animal windpipe."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the trachea (the windpipe, which carries air to the lungs) with the esophagus (the food pipe, which carries food and liquid to the stomach). Both 'tracheae' and 'tracheas' are standard plural forms.
• Rhymes for trachea
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Medieval Latin from Late Latin 'trachia', shortened from Ancient Greek 'trakheia arteria' ('rough artery'), from 'trakhys' ('rough'), referring to the ridged cartilaginous rings along the windpipe.