tonsil

noun

ton·​sil ˈtän(t)-səl 

1

: either of a pair of prominent masses of lymphoid tissue that lie one on each side of the throat between two folds of soft tissue that bound the fauces

2

: any of various masses of lymphoid tissue (such as the adenoids) that are similar to tonsils

tonsillar

ˈtän(t)-s(ə-)lər 

adjective

Examples of tonsil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Strep, a common infection in the throat and tonsils, can strike at any time of year, but most cases occur in late fall to early spring. —Suryatapa Bhattacharya, wsj.com, 27 Apr. 2023

Doja Cat shared photos of herself from a hospital bed on Twitter in July after having two surgeries on her tonsils. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2023

Mehanna attributed the spike to a rise in a type of throat cancer called oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the tonsils and other structures in the back of the throat that make up the oropharynx. —Korin Miller, Health, 8 June 2023

The lymph system is part of the immune system, which is made up of lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, the spleen, thymus, tonsils and bone marrow. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 June 2023

Surgeries included many performed in the body’s orifices to treat polyps, inflamed tonsils, hemorrhoids and fistulas. —Franz Lidz, New York Times, 13 June 2023

Till Dawn Tour this summer as a result of an abscess in her left tonsil, Doja is ready to perform again at the event's JBL Live show. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2022

Social Distortion leader Mike Ness has been diagnosed with stage one tonsil cancer and is expected to make a full recovery from surgery, the singer/guitarist shared in a social media post this morning (June 7). —Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 7 June 2023

But the band is canceling its summer touring plans and delaying the release of its next album after frontman Mike Ness revealed on the band's Facebook page that he had been diagnosed with stage one tonsil cancer. —Journal Sentinel, 7 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Latin tonsillae, plural, tonsils

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tonsil

noun

ton·​sil ˈtän(t)-səl 

: either of a pair of oval-shaped masses of spongy tissue that lie one on each side of the throat at the back of the mouth

Medical Definition

tonsil

noun

ton·​sil ˈtän(t)-səl 

1

a

: either of a pair of prominent masses of lymphoid tissue that lie one on each side of the throat between the anterior and posterior pillars of the fauces and are composed of lymph follicles grouped around one or more deep crypts and except for the exposed surface which is covered only by epithelium are surrounded by diffuse lymphoid tissue in a fibrous capsule

called also palatine tonsil

b

: pharyngeal tonsil

c

: lingual tonsil

2

: a rounded prominence situated medially on the lower surface of each lateral hemisphere of the cerebellum