breathing tube

noun

plural breathing tubes

1

medical : a usually small plastic tube inserted (as through the nose or mouth) into the trachea especially to deliver oxygen or anesthesia to the lungs

… tracheostomy, a complication-prone and cosmetically undesirable insertion of a breathing tube through the neck.

—John Grossmann

especially : endotracheal tube

… her life is sustained by a breathing tube that hospital authorities are unwilling to disconnect.

—Judy Flander

Eventually, anesthesia was called to insert a breathing tube and Mrs. M was placed on a ventilator because she could not breathe adequately on her own.

—Kiran Gupta

2

: a tubular anatomical part through which air passes into or out of the body: such as

a

: a trachea or bronchial tube of an air-breathing vertebrate

… immediate help would be available to any student suffering anaphylaxis, the severe allergic reaction that can close off breathing tubes and send the body into shock.

—Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah

Bronchiectasis is abnormal dilation of the bronchi, the breathing tubes of the lungs.

—Paul G. Donohue

b

: one of the air-conveying tubules forming the respiratory system of most insects and many other arthropods : trachea sense 3

… tracheal mites, even tinier parasites, which attack bees' breathing tubes …

—Elizabeth Kolbert

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Over that first week, doctors monitored Elayna’s brain for bleeding and poured a protein into her breathing tube to help her lungs open and close. —Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2023

Tyson had seen the hospital photograph of Nichols, his face battered and swollen, a breathing tube in his mouth. —Jamie Thompson, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2023

Hamlin, who still has a breathing tube, was able to communicate in writing to doctors last night, according to Dr. Timothy Pritts of UC Health. —Camille C. Knox, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2023

Some might need additional oxygen, fluids or a breathing tube. —Brianna Abbott, WSJ, 10 Nov. 2022

As a result of the complications, Cooper was put on a ventilator and breathing tube. —Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2022

Cooper remains on a ventilator and a breathing tube due to the post-surgery complications. —Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 15 July 2022

Hamlin is breathing on his own and able to talk after having his breathing tube removed, his agent and the team said Friday. —CBS News, 7 Jan. 2023

The Buffalo safety is breathing on his own and able to talk after having his breathing tube removed, four days since after going into cardiac arrest and being resuscitated on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. —Mark Heim | [e-mail], al, 6 Jan. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

breathing tube

noun

1

: a trachea or bronchial tube of an air-breathing vertebrate

2

: trachea sense 2

3

: a usually small plastic tube inserted into the trachea through the mouth or nose to maintain an unobstructed passageway especially to deliver oxygen or anesthesia to the lungs

Medical Definition

breathing tube

noun

1

: a tubular anatomical part (as a trachea or bronchial tube) through which air passes into or out of the body of an air-breathing vertebrate

… immediate help would be available to any student suffering anaphylaxis, the severe allergic reaction that can close off breathing tubes and send the body into shock.

—Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, The Chicago Tribune

Bronchiectasis is abnormal dilation of the bronchi, the breathing tubes of the lungs.

—Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union News

2

: a usually small plastic tube inserted (as through the nose or mouth) into the trachea especially to deliver oxygen or anesthesia to the lungs

… tracheostomy, a complication-prone and cosmetically undesirable insertion of a breathing tube through the neck.

—John Grossmann, Science 84

especially : endotracheal tube

Eventually, anesthesia was called to insert a breathing tube and Mrs. M was placed on a ventilator because she could not breathe adequately on her own.

—Kiran Gupta, The Boston Globe