turbinate

1 of 2

adjective

tur·​bi·​nate ˈtər-bə-nət  -ˌnāt 

variants or less commonly turbinated

ˈtər-bə-ˌnā-təd 

1

: shaped like a top or an inverted cone

turbinate seed capsule

2

: relating to or being a turbinate

turbinate

2 of 2

noun

: one of usually several thin plicated membrane-covered bony or cartilaginous plates on the walls of the nasal chambers

Examples of turbinate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

According to a review of studies published in July in PLOS One, a science journal, nasopharyngeal swabs are 98 percent accurate; shallow swabs are 82 percent to 88 percent effective; mid-turbinate swabs perform similarly. — New York Times, 18 Nov. 2021

Noun

Saline rinses help clear away any mucus and shrink down the nasal turbinates, or soft tissues on the outside of the nasal passage. — Maggie O'Neill, Health, 7 Apr. 2024

The first channel goes low and relatively slow and spreads through the turbinates before eventually reaching the olfactory region. — Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2023

For me that was daily soft-palate exercises, a tennis-ball T-shirt, and that turbinate surgery, which greatly reduced my snoring. — Paul Kita, Men's Health, 15 Dec. 2022

So anybody who’s using the deep turbinate now is just out of date. — Steven Levy, Wired, 7 Aug. 2020

Research published this spring suggested that the mid-turbinate swabbing was sensitive enough, and could be done more quickly. — Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 20 May 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin turbinatus, from turbin-, turbo

First Known Use

Adjective

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for turbinate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Medical Definition

turbinate

1 of 2 adjective

tur·​bi·​nate ˈtər-bə-nət  -ˌnāt 

: of, relating to, or being a nasal concha

turbinate

2 of 2 noun

: nasal concha