trachea

noun

tra·chea | \ ˈtrā-kē-ə

plural tracheae\ ˈtrā-kē-ˌē

, -kē-ˌī \ also tracheas or trachea

Definition of 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 sense 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

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Surgeons with the University of Colorado planned to remove a section of Giellis’ trachea and voice box to alleviate a condition known as tracheal stenosis. — Andrew Kenney, The Denver Post, "Former Denver mayor candidate Jamie Giellis undergoes throat surgery," 18 June 2019 When Rodriguez, 31, got medical attention for Wilson on May 30, a veterinarian found that the small entry wound from the pellet was healing but the pellet itself was lodged dangerously close to the cat’s spinal column and trachea. — Doug Phillips, sun-sentinel.com, "Kitty cruelty: Who shot Wilson the cat with a BB gun?," 20 June 2019 Took a knee, collapsed my trachea, left on a stretcher. — Sam Farmer, latimes.com, "Gary Woodland feels at ease in the U.S. Open driver's seat," 15 June 2019 Affected snakes possess two brains with distinct personalities, though one head typically dominates the other, which might lack a trachea, esophagus, or even eyes. — Laura Mallonee, WIRED, "The Life and Viral Fame of Virginia's Two-Headed Snake," 13 June 2019 The nail punctured the wall of the carpenter’s trachea. — Edward Baig, USA TODAY, "Your doctor may be playing medical video games at work. That could be good for your health," 12 June 2019 Surgeons removed the tooth surgically by Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy, a procedure that involves inserting a flexible tube down the trachea. — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Can You Inhale Your Tooth While Sleeping? Here's How It Sent One Girl to the Hospital," 11 June 2019 The errant gunshot, fired into the crowd amid a fight between other teenagers, ruptured Sakran’s trachea, severed his carotid artery and paralyzed his vocal chord. — Meagan Flynn, The Seattle Times, "Shot in the neck at 17, this is the trauma surgeon now leading doctors against gun violence and NRA," 14 Nov. 2018 Large dermoid cysts found in the neck, for instance, could put pressure on nearby structures in the throat, like the vocal cords or trachea, causing voice changes or trouble breathing or swallowing, according to Dr. Georgopoulos. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Did You Know Dermoid Cysts Can Have Hair, Skin, and TEETH?," 15 Jan. 2019

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.

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Last Updated

25 Aug 2019

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Time Traveler for trachea

The first known use of trachea was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for trachea

trachea

noun

English Language Learners Definition of trachea

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

See the full definition for trachea in the English Language Learners Dictionary

trachea

noun

tra·chea | \ ˈtrā-kē-ə

plural tracheae\ -kē-ˌē \

Kids Definition of trachea

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

trachea

noun

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

plural tracheae\ -kē-ˌē

\ also tracheas

Medical Definition of trachea

: 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