esophagus

noun

esoph·​a·​gus i-ˈsä-fə-gəs How to pronounce esophagus (audio)
plural esophagi i-ˈsä-fə-ˌgī How to pronounce esophagus (audio) -ˌjī How to pronounce esophagus (audio)
: a muscular tube that conveys food from the mouth to the stomach and that in humans is about nine inches (23 centimeters) long and passes from the pharynx down the neck between the trachea and the spinal column and behind the left bronchus where it pierces the diaphragm slightly to the left of the middle line and joins the cardiac end of the stomach
esophageal adjective

Examples of esophagus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What feels like lung pain may also originate in a nearby structure, such as the chest wall or muscles, heart, or esophagus (food pipe).1 Lung pain may feel like sharp, stabbing sensations that worsen when coughing, sneezing, or taking a deep breath. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 16 Oct. 2024 Desperately, Teddy tried to find someone to operate with her on Nora’s esophagus, and what were the odds? Charlie Mason, TVLine, 3 Oct. 2024 Fish that swallow their prey whole tend to wolf them down headfirst, and for sinuous A. japonica, as the eel’s head and upper body is sliding into a predator’s stomach, its tail will often linger in the esophagus. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024 Among those injured were Keely Roberts and her son Cooper, then 8, who was hit in the back with a bullet that exited his chest, damaging his aorta, liver, esophagus and spinal cord and paralyzing him from the waist down. Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 4 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for esophagus 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'esophagus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ysophagus, from Medieval Latin ysofugus, from Greek oisophagos, from oisein to be going to carry + phagein to eat — more at baksheesh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of esophagus was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near esophagus

Cite this Entry

“Esophagus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/esophagus. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

esophagus

noun
esoph·​a·​gus i-ˈsäf-ə-gəs How to pronounce esophagus (audio)
plural esophagi -ˌgī How to pronounce esophagus (audio)
-ˌjī
: a muscular tube that leads from the cavity behind the mouth to the stomach
esophageal adjective

Medical Definition

esophagus

noun
esoph·​a·​gus
variants or chiefly British oesophagus
plural esophagi -ˌgī How to pronounce esophagus (audio) -ˌjī How to pronounce esophagus (audio)
: a muscular tube that in adult humans is about nine inches (23 centimeters) long and passes from the pharynx down the neck between the trachea and the spinal column and behind the left bronchus where it pierces the diaphragm slightly to the left of the middle line and joins the cardiac end of the stomach

More from Merriam-Webster on esophagus

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