spiracle
noun
spi·ra·cle
ˈspir-i-kəl 
ˈspī-ri-
1
: a breathing hole : vent
2
: a breathing orifice: such as
a
b
: an external tracheal aperture of a terrestrial arthropod that in an insect is usually one of a series of small apertures located along each side of the thorax and abdomen see insect illustration
Examples of spiracle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For insects, oxygen enters their bodies through tiny openings called spiracles, traveling through internal networks of tubes called tracheae.
—
Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
The tobacco hornworm, for example, not only tolerates the toxicity of nicotine but exploits the plant’s weapon in the interest of its own survival: After feeding on tobacco leaves, the hornworm releases enough nicotine through its spiracles to ward off the spiders that prey on it.
—Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2023
With macrophotography that shows every hair (a surprising amount of it), every spiracle (the pores in their exoskeletons through which ants breathe) and every facet of their compound eyes, the images replace our accustomed looking-down-from-a-skyscraper view with intimate, face-to-face portraits.
—New York Times, 5 Apr. 2021
From each spiracle, the blue tubes, called trachea, carry oxygen into the chrysalis.
—Lisa Raffensperger, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2013
Some modern-day fishes that breathe air have similarly large spiracles.
—John A. Long, Scientific American, 20 May 2020
The skull of Elpistostege contains a clue: at the back of the head is a pair of large holes called spiracles.
—John A. Long, Scientific American, 20 May 2020
Sturgeon have holes in their sides called spiracles, which help them breathe along with their gills.
—National Geographic, 25 Feb. 2020
Also, an up-close look reveals intake vents (spiracles) behind the eyes for circulating water through the gills and out on the saw’s underside for exhaling.
—David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 13 Dec. 2019
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Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
The tobacco hornworm, for example, not only tolerates the toxicity of nicotine but exploits the plant’s weapon in the interest of its own survival: After feeding on tobacco leaves, the hornworm releases enough nicotine through its spiracles to ward off the spiders that prey on it.
—Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2023
With macrophotography that shows every hair (a surprising amount of it), every spiracle (the pores in their exoskeletons through which ants breathe) and every facet of their compound eyes, the images replace our accustomed looking-down-from-a-skyscraper view with intimate, face-to-face portraits.
—New York Times, 5 Apr. 2021
From each spiracle, the blue tubes, called trachea, carry oxygen into the chrysalis.
—Lisa Raffensperger, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2013
Some modern-day fishes that breathe air have similarly large spiracles.
—John A. Long, Scientific American, 20 May 2020
The skull of Elpistostege contains a clue: at the back of the head is a pair of large holes called spiracles.
—John A. Long, Scientific American, 20 May 2020
Sturgeon have holes in their sides called spiracles, which help them breathe along with their gills.
—National Geographic, 25 Feb. 2020
Also, an up-close look reveals intake vents (spiracles) behind the eyes for circulating water through the gills and out on the saw’s underside for exhaling.
—David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 13 Dec. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Spiracle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiracle. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spiracle
noun
spi·ra·cle
ˈspir-i-kəl
ˈspī-ri-
: any of the openings in the body of an arthropod and especially of an insect through which air enters a trachea
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