1
: either of the external nares
broadly
: either of the nares with the adjoining passage on the same side of the septum
2
: either fleshy lateral wall of the nose
Examples of nostril in a Sentence
My left nostril is stuffed up.
She left in a rage, her nostrils flaring.
Recent Examples on the Web
Some 15 meters away stood Tetsuya Yamagami, face mask slung below his nostrils, hands on hips, looking disinterested.
—
TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Surgeons inserted nasal trumpets into her nostrils to open her airway to help her breathe.
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
Some paleontologists argue that its small nostrils in the middle of the skull allowed the dinosaur to breathe when its head was partially out of the water.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024
To do that effectively, breathe slowly in through your nostrils for a count of five, hold it briefly, then exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of seven.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The mustard is the kind that singes your nostrils and leaves a tear in your eye.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024
In what appears to be a dream, a creepy-crawly form is seen moving under the skin of Jakub’s face, its pedipalps first making an abortive attempt to exit via his nostrils before a sizeable spider emerges from his mouth.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024
In the study, which was published Tuesday in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers found that cold air can damage the immune response in the nostrils.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 4 Dec. 2023
Breasts, buttocks, nostrils, ears, eyelids: almost nothing is off limits.
—Jane Alexander, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Feb. 2024
TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Surgeons inserted nasal trumpets into her nostrils to open her airway to help her breathe.
—USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
Some paleontologists argue that its small nostrils in the middle of the skull allowed the dinosaur to breathe when its head was partially out of the water.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024
To do that effectively, breathe slowly in through your nostrils for a count of five, hold it briefly, then exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of seven.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The mustard is the kind that singes your nostrils and leaves a tear in your eye.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024
In what appears to be a dream, a creepy-crawly form is seen moving under the skin of Jakub’s face, its pedipalps first making an abortive attempt to exit via his nostrils before a sizeable spider emerges from his mouth.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024
In the study, which was published Tuesday in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers found that cold air can damage the immune response in the nostrils.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 4 Dec. 2023
Breasts, buttocks, nostrils, ears, eyelids: almost nothing is off limits.
—Jane Alexander, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nostril.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near nostril
Cite this Entry
“Nostril.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nostril. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nostril
noun
nos·tril
ˈnäs-trəl 
: either of the outer openings of the nose through which one breathes
also
: either fleshy wall forming a side of the nose
Medical Definition
nostril
noun
nos·tril
ˈnäs-trəl
1
: either of the external nares
broadly
: either of the nares with the adjoining passage on the same side of the nasal septum
2
: either fleshy lateral wall of the nose
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