cochlea

noun

co·​chlea ˈkō-klē-ə  ˈkä-klē- 

plural cochleas or cochleae ˈkō-klē-ˌē 

-ˌī,

ˈkä-klē- 

: a hollow tube in the inner ear of higher vertebrates that is usually coiled like a snail shell and contains the sensory organ of hearing see ear illustration

cochlear

ˈkō-klē-ər  ˈkä- 

adjective

Examples of cochlea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All of the children in the trial have a rare mutation in the instructions for making a protein called otoferlin, which helps sensory cells in the cochlea communicate with the brain. —Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025

MicroCT scans revealed delicate components inside the ear bones, including the cochlea. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2025

The inner ear is home to the cochlea, our hearing organ, and the vestibular system, which controls balance. —Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Popular Science, 16 July 2025

Timing is everything Sensory processing of sounds begins in the cochlea, a part of the inner ear where sound frequencies are converted into electricity and forwarded to the auditory cortex of the brain. —Hysell V. Oviedo, The Conversation, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, snail, snail shell, from Greek kochlias, from kochlos snail; probably akin to Greek konchē mussel

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cochlea

• trochlea

Kids Definition

cochlea

noun

co·​chlea ˈkō-klē-ə  ˈkäk-lē- 

plural cochleas or cochleae -klē-ˌē 

-lē-ˌē,

-ˌī

: a hollow tube of the inner ear of higher vertebrates that is usually coiled like a snail shell and contains the endings of the nerve which carries information about sound to the brain

cochlear

ˈkō-klē-ər

ˈkäk-lē-

adjective

Medical Definition

cochlea

noun

co·​chle·​a ˈkō-klē-ə  ˈkäk-lē- 

plural cochleas or cochleae ˈkō-klē-ˌē, ˈkäk-lē-ˌē, -ˌī 

: a division of the bony labyrinth of the inner ear coiled into the form of a snail shell and consisting of a spiral canal in the petrous part of the temporal bone in which lies a smaller membranous spiral passage that communicates with the saccule at the base of the spiral, ends blindly near its apex, and contains the organ of Corti

cochlear

ˈkō-klē-ər, ˈkäk-lē-ər 

adjective