spiracle

noun

spi·​ra·​cle ˈspir-i-kəl 

ˈspī-ri-

1

: a breathing hole : vent

2

: a breathing orifice: such as

a

: blowhole sense 2

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

spiracular

spə-ˈra-kyə-lər 

spī-

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

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

The photographs showed children touching the animal, unintentionally covering the spiracle. —Robert Newhouse, Teen Vogue, 17 Aug. 2017

When disturbed, say by a predator, these North American insects compress their bodies and squeeze air out of holes in the sides of their bodies, called spiracles. —National Geographic, 26 Apr. 2017

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin spiraculum, from spirare to breathe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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