air passage
noun
plural air passages
: a channel or part through which air passes
It takes an extra shot of fuel right into the carburetor air passage to give an engine a burst of power when the accelerator pedal is depressed quickly.—
Popular Science
Popular Science
specifically
: an anatomical part (such as the pharynx and bronchial tubes) involved in respiration
Pertussis is a bacterial infection of the air passages leading to the lungs … —Jane E. Brody
Jane E. Brody While asthma was once defined purely as intermittent, reversible spasms of the air passages in the lungs, its underlying cause is now known to be chronic inflammation of those airways … —Judy Packer-Tursman
Judy Packer-Tursman Examples of air passage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With training from a medical professional, patients with asthma could use such small, portable ventilators for breathing treatments to open up blockages in small air passages.
—Ravinder Dahiya, IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2020
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the air passages that carry air to and from the lungs and can cause coughing, mucus production, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
The new indication applies to people who are overweight or obese and have a specific type of sleep apnea known as obstructive sleep apnea, which is a physical condition in which the muscles of the throat relax and block air passages.
—Alice Park, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
Stalls was the anesthesiologist for the bronchoscopy, a procedure to look inside the lungs and air passages.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 May 2024
Snoring becomes more common with age because upper airway muscles lose tone, weight gain impairs air passage and alcohol and medications may exacerbate the issue.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Dec. 2023
Drink plenty of fluids (water, clear broth, tea, etc) to help prevent dehydration and loosen mucus from nasal and air passages.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Oct. 2023
In other words, if breathability and cooling capabilities are your primary concern, a high thread count doesn't allow for effective air passage.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 27 June 2023
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Ravinder Dahiya, IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2020
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the air passages that carry air to and from the lungs and can cause coughing, mucus production, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
The new indication applies to people who are overweight or obese and have a specific type of sleep apnea known as obstructive sleep apnea, which is a physical condition in which the muscles of the throat relax and block air passages.
—Alice Park, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
Stalls was the anesthesiologist for the bronchoscopy, a procedure to look inside the lungs and air passages.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 May 2024
Snoring becomes more common with age because upper airway muscles lose tone, weight gain impairs air passage and alcohol and medications may exacerbate the issue.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Dec. 2023
Drink plenty of fluids (water, clear broth, tea, etc) to help prevent dehydration and loosen mucus from nasal and air passages.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Oct. 2023
In other words, if breathability and cooling capabilities are your primary concern, a high thread count doesn't allow for effective air passage.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 27 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Air passage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20passage. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
air passage
noun
: a channel or part through which air passes
specifically
: an anatomical part (such as the pharynx and bronchial tubes) involved in respiration
Pertussis is a bacterial infection of the air passages leading to the lungs … —Jane E. Brody, The New York Times
Jane E. Brody, The New York Times While asthma was once defined purely as intermittent, reversible spasms of the air passages in the lungs, its underlying cause is now known to be chronic inflammation of those airways … —Judy Packer-Tursman, The Washington Post
Judy Packer-Tursman, The Washington Post Love words? Need even more definitions?
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