laryngeal

1 of 2

adjective

la·​ryn·​geal lə-ˈrin-jəl How to pronounce laryngeal (audio)
 also  -jē-əl;
ˌler-ən-ˈjē-əl How to pronounce laryngeal (audio)
ˌla-rən-
1
: of, relating to, or used on the larynx
a laryngeal obstruction
2
: produced by or with constriction of the larynx
laryngeal articulation of sounds

laryngeal

2 of 2

noun

1
: an anatomical part (such as a nerve or artery) that supplies or is associated with the larynx
2
a
: a laryngeal sound
b
: any of a set of several conjectured phonemes reconstructed for Proto-Indo-European chiefly on indirect evidence

Examples of laryngeal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
There is much to learn from the laryngeal descent theory, to the arguments made for neurological and intelligence-based speech development. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 27 Oct. 2023 The authors of the new study suggest that purring instead results from the laryngeal pads of cats. Jorge Garay, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023 Asbestos can cause several types of cancer, including mesothelioma and lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancer. Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2023 Typically, putting a patient on a mechanical ventilator requires the insertion of a laryngeal mask, endotracheal tube, or tracheostomy. IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2020 The respiratory and laryngeal muscles can spasm as well, obstructing the passage of air and causing death. Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2015 During development, the axons in the animal’s left vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerve must grow roughly twice as fast as its neck does. Jeffrey M. Rodgers, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2022 Children with laryngeal diphtheria needed to have membranes removed from their vocal cords by laryngoscopy two or three times a day. Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2010 For example, inducible laryngeal obstruction is a reversible and temporary narrowing of the larynx that can mimic the symptoms of asthma. Markham Heid, Time, 21 Oct. 2022
Noun
Asbestos can cause several types of cancer, including mesothelioma and lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancer. Rob Wile, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2023 Barger was a three-pack-a-day smoker until laryngitic laryngeal cancer forced surgeons to remove his vocal cords in the early 1980s. Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2022 So just about any science on laryngeal dystonia seemed worth volunteering for. Eric Boodman, STAT, 10 Feb. 2020 In dystonia cases, both laryngeal and otherwise, that mix of reliance and distrust is especially fraught. Eric Boodman, STAT, 10 Feb. 2020 Other increased cancer risks included lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and multiple myeloma. Longreads, 5 June 2019 But triggering patients' laryngeal muscles by stimulating the associated neurons strongly enforces the case for a causal link. Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, 28 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'laryngeal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of laryngeal was in 1795

Dictionary Entries Near laryngeal

Cite this Entry

“Laryngeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laryngeal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

laryngeal

1 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, affecting, or used on the larynx
laryngeally adverb

laryngeal

2 of 2 noun
: an anatomical part (as a nerve or artery) that supplies or is associated with the larynx
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