alveolar
adjective
al·ve·o·lar
al-ˈvē-(ə-)lər 
1
: of, relating to, resembling, or having alveoli
especially
: of, relating to, or constituting the part of the jaws where the teeth arise, the air-containing compartments of the lungs, or glands with secretory cells about a central space
2
phonetics
: articulated with the tip of the tongue touching or near the ridge of bone behind the teeth in the upper jaw
\d\, \n\, and \t\ are alveolar consonants.
alveolarly
adverb
Examples of alveolar in a Sentence
The word “two” begins with an alveolar sound.
Recent Examples on the Web
Covid patients can develop scar tissue and permanent changes to the alveolar walls that limit airflow even after the inflammation and fluid of an active infection has cleared.
—
Hang Do Thi Duc, New York Times, 31 May 2023
Generally, cells in the lungs called alveolar macrophages will pick up the particulates and clear them out – at reasonable doses.
—Christopher T. Migliaccio, Fortune, 7 June 2023
Pollutants reaching the alveolar gas-exchanging membranes are removed by specialized cells called phagocytes and macrophages that ingest particles to move most to be carried away via lymph vessels and nodes.
—Arthur Dalley, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2019
Keeping alveolar macrophages in check would be the best way to stop COPD at its roots.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2015
Autopsies of inmates executed by states had shown the drug to cause flash pulmonary edema—an onrush of fluid into the lungs, which would induce the sensation of drowning, filings asserted, in a foam-like substance produced as the liquid mixed with alveolar air.
—Caroline Lester, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2021
The # is an alveolar click, made by pulling the tip of the tongue down sharply from the roof of the mouth to make the sound of a popping cork.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2010
Researchers therefore wanted to test alendronate’s ability to kill alveolar macrophages.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2015
The spike proteins covering the coronavirus likely bind to ACE2 receptors on Type II alveolar cells, allowing the virus to enter the cell via endosome or membrane fusion and release its RNA.
—Avesta Rastan, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2020
See More
Hang Do Thi Duc, New York Times, 31 May 2023
Generally, cells in the lungs called alveolar macrophages will pick up the particulates and clear them out – at reasonable doses.
—Christopher T. Migliaccio, Fortune, 7 June 2023
Pollutants reaching the alveolar gas-exchanging membranes are removed by specialized cells called phagocytes and macrophages that ingest particles to move most to be carried away via lymph vessels and nodes.
—Arthur Dalley, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2019
Keeping alveolar macrophages in check would be the best way to stop COPD at its roots.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2015
Autopsies of inmates executed by states had shown the drug to cause flash pulmonary edema—an onrush of fluid into the lungs, which would induce the sensation of drowning, filings asserted, in a foam-like substance produced as the liquid mixed with alveolar air.
—Caroline Lester, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2021
The # is an alveolar click, made by pulling the tip of the tongue down sharply from the roof of the mouth to make the sound of a popping cork.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2010
Researchers therefore wanted to test alendronate’s ability to kill alveolar macrophages.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2015
The spike proteins covering the coronavirus likely bind to ACE2 receptors on Type II alveolar cells, allowing the virus to enter the cell via endosome or membrane fusion and release its RNA.
—Avesta Rastan, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alveolar.' 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
1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing alveolar
Dictionary Entries Near alveolar
Cite this Entry
“Alveolar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alveolar. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
alveolar
adjective
al·ve·o·lar
al-ˈvē-ə-lər
: of, relating to, resembling, or having alveoli
Medical Definition
alveolar
adjective
al·ve·o·lar
al-ˈvē-ə-lər
1
: of, relating to, resembling, or having alveoli
2
: of, relating to, or constituting the part of the jaws where the teeth arise, the air-containing cells of the lungs, or glands with secretory cells about a central space
More from Merriam-Webster on alveolar
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for alveolar
Britannica English: Translation of alveolar for Arabic Speakers
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