airway

noun

air·way | \-ˌwā

Definition of airway

1 : a passage for a current of air (as in a mine or to the lungs)

2 : a designated route along which airplanes fly from airport to airport especially : such a route equipped with navigational aids

3 : airline

4 : a channel of a designated radio frequency for broadcasting or other radio communication

Examples of airway in a Sentence

a patient with a partially blocked airway

Recent Examples on the Web

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways, and about 1 in 12 U.S. children have asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. — Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, "Flu shots go a long way to keep kids with asthma out of the emergency room, study says," 4 June 2018 Sometimes mistaken for cystic fibrosis, PCD affects the hairlike structures called cilia that line the airways, reproductive tract and other organs. — Sandra G. Boodman, chicagotribune.com, "The girl who couldn't stop coughing," 5 Apr. 2018 Lee Gudeman had no pulse but with his airway back open a bit, his pulse returned as paramedics arrived. — Amy Lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Choking victim reunites with lifesaver nurse at Valparaiso restaurant: 'Because of you, I'm still alive'," 3 July 2018 This mucus clogs airways and promotes the growth of bacteria. — Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Vertex Pharmaceuticals opens expanded San Diego research center with focus on cystic fibrosis," 18 June 2018 And regular apple eaters report fewer asthma symptoms, according to British research (a flavonoid called khellin may open up airways). — Alexandra Sifferlin, Time, "11 Best Foods For Your Immune System," 19 June 2018 Mustard agent blisters skin, scars eyes and inflames airways. — Washington Post, "US resumes destroying obsolete chemical weapons in Colorado," 13 June 2018 Your airways can get inflamed in response to triggers, and the swelling can cause the surrounding muscles to tighten, restricting your air intake even more. — Korin Miller, SELF, "5 Types of Asthma That Might Completely Surprise You," 4 May 2018 The pencil eraser-size valves expand and seal the airways, shrinking diseased areas of the lungs so healthier regions can expand and function better. — Marie Mccullough, Philly.com, "Emphysema patients get new option as FDA approves lung valves studied at Temple," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'airway.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

12 Oct 2018

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Time Traveler for airway

The first known use of airway was in 1800

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More Definitions for airway

airway

noun

English Language Learners Definition of airway

medical : the area in the throat through which air passes to and from the lungs

: a route along which airplanes regularly fly

—used in the names of some airlines

See the full definition for airway in the English Language Learners Dictionary

airway

noun

air·way | \ˈer-ˌwā

Kids Definition of airway

1 : the passage through which air moves from the nose or mouth to the lungs in breathing

2 : a route along which airplanes regularly fly

3 : airline

airway

noun

air·way | \-ˌwā

Medical Definition of airway

: a passageway for air into or out of the lungs specifically : a device passed into the trachea by way of the mouth or nose or through an incision to maintain a clear respiratory passageway (as during anesthesia, convulsions, or in obstructive laryngitis) — see upper airway