trachea

play

noun tra·chea \ˈtrā-kē-ə\

Definition of trachea

plural

tracheae

play \-kē-ˌē, -kē-ˌī\ also

tracheas

trachea

1 : the main trunk of the system of tubes by which air passes to and from the lungs in vertebrates
2 [New Latin, from Medieval Latin] : vessel 3b; also : one of its constituent cellular elements
3 [New Latin] : one of the air-conveying tubules forming the respiratory system of most insects and many other arthropods

tracheal

play \-kē-əl\ adjective

See trachea defined for English-language learners

See trachea defined for kids

Recent Examples of trachea from the Web

Hundreds of choking deaths occur in the US every year due to food obstructions in the trachea.

— wired staff, WIRED, "Reader Rants and Raves", 21 Sep. 2009

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trachea'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of trachea

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Late Latin trachia, from Greek tracheia (artēria) rough (artery), from feminine of trachys rough

First Known Use: 14th century

TRACHEA Defined for English Language Learners

trachea

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noun

Definition of trachea for English Language Learners

medical : a long tube in your neck and chest that carries air into and out of your lungs

TRACHEA Defined for Kids

trachea

play

noun tra·chea \ˈtrā-kē-ə\

Definition of trachea for Students

plural

tracheae

\-kē-ˌē\

1 : a stiff-walled tube of the respiratory system that connects the pharynx with the lungs
2 : a breathing tube of an insect that connects with the outside of the body and carries oxygen directly to the cells

Medical Dictionary

trachea

play play

noun tra·chea \ˈtrā-kē-ə, British also trə-ˈkē-ə\

Medical Definition of trachea

plural

tracheae

\-kē-ˌē\play also

tracheas

: the main trunk of the system of tubes by which air passes to and from the lungs that is about four inches (10 centimeters) long and somewhat less than an inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter, extends down the front of the neck from the larynx, divides in two to form the bronchi, has walls of fibrous and muscular tissue stiffened by incomplete cartilaginous rings which keep it from collapsing, and is lined with mucous membrane whose epithelium is composed of columnar ciliated mucus-secreting cells—called also windpipe