trachea

tra·chea

noun \ˈtrā-kē-ə\

plural tra·che·ae\-kē-ˌē, -kē-ˌī\ also tra·che·as or tra·chea

Definition of 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 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

— tra·che·al \-kē-əl\ adjective

Origin of TRACHEA

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