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

How does the cochlea pick up on those barely-there sounds and provide the brain with information? —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025

But the saline fluid within the cochlea is conductive, so the current from each electrode spreads out and causes broad activation of neurons across the frequency map of the cochlea. —IEEE Spectrum, 18 July 2022

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

Damage to the cochlea’s hair cells is irreversible because these cells do not regenerate. —Dr. Baibing Chen, Contributor, CNBC, 22 Apr. 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