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aorta

noun
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aor·​ta | \ ā-ˈȯr-tə How to pronounce aorta (audio) \
plural aortas or aortae\ ā-​ˈȯr-​tē How to pronounce aortae (audio) \

Definition of aorta

: the great arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the body — see heart illustration
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Other Words from aorta

aortic \ ā-​ˈȯr-​tik How to pronounce aortic (audio) \ adjective

Examples of aorta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The cause was complications following surgery for a torn aorta, said a son, Maury Peiperl. — BostonGlobe.com, "Adam Peiperl, creator of kinetic light sculptures, dies at 84 - The Boston Globe," 5 Dec. 2019 The cause was complications following surgery for a torn aorta, said a son, Maury Peiperl. — Washington Post, "Adam Peiperl, creator of kinetic light sculptures, dies at 84," 4 Dec. 2019 In the past, doctors have told me that a severe cough could potentially rip my aorta, for example. — Anonymous* As Told To Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, "I'm a 22-Year-Old Battling a Rare Genetic Condition. Then I Got COVID-19.," 20 Mar. 2020 For example, one healthy baby had a genetic mutation associated with narrowing of the aorta. — Michele Cohen Marill, Wired, "Ultra-Fast Genome Sequencing Could Save the Lives of Newborns," 9 Mar. 2020 An aortic dissection is when there is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, a condition that most frequently occurs in men in their 60s and 70s, the Mayo Clinic website said. — Doha Madani, NBC News, "JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recovering from emergency heart surgery," 6 Mar. 2020 That is when blood leaks through a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the large artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. — CBS News, "JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has emergency heart surgery," 6 Mar. 2020 An aortic dissection occurs when blood forces its way into a tear in the aorta, the biggest artery in the body, separating its layers or peeling them apart. — Emily Flitter, New York Times, "JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon Has Emergency Heart Surgery," 5 Mar. 2020 His aorta tore like an old garden hose left out in the sun too long. — Los Angeles Times, "Column: From used-car lot to Dawg Pound: Freddie Kitchens’ grit and heart help revive Browns," 21 Sep. 2019

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

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First Known Use of aorta

1543, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for aorta

New Latin, from Greek aortē, from aeirein to lift

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Time Traveler for aorta

Time Traveler

The first known use of aorta was in 1543

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Statistics for aorta

Last Updated

11 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Aorta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aorta. Accessed 24 May. 2020.

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More Definitions for aorta

aorta

noun
How to pronounce aorta (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of aorta

: the large artery that brings blood from the heart to the rest of the body

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

aorta

noun
aor·​ta | \ ā-ˈȯr-tə How to pronounce aorta (audio) \

Kids Definition of aorta

: the main artery that carries blood from the heart for distribution to all parts of the body

aorta

noun
aor·​ta | \ ā-ˈȯrt-ə How to pronounce aorta (audio) \
plural aortas or aortae\ -​ē How to pronounce aortae (audio) \

Medical Definition of aorta

: the large arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the body

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More from Merriam-Webster on aorta

Spanish Central: Translation of aorta

Nglish: Translation of aorta for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of aorta for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aorta

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