trachea

play

noun tra·chea \ ˈtrā-kē-ə \

Definition of trachea

plural tracheae play \-kē-ˌē, -kē-ˌī\ also tracheas or trachea

1 :the main trunk of the system of tubes by which air passes to and from the lungs in vertebrates

[New Latin, from Medieval Latin]

:vessel 3b; also :one of its constituent cellular elements

[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

The Accord had been fixed up and sold to the family of 19-year-old Karina Dorado, whose trachea was punctured by shrapnel spewed by the faulty air bag.

— tom krisher, The Seattle Times, "How a dangerous Takata air bag made its way into a used car," 22 Aug. 2017
The Accord had been fixed up and sold in March of 2016 to the family of Karina Dorado, a 19-year-old woman whose trachea was punctured by shrapnel spewed by the faulty air bag.

— tom krishner, USA TODAY, "Recalled Takata air bags showing up in used cars, lawsuit alleges," 22 Aug. 2017
As one doctor describes it on her blog, drowning happens when someone aspirates, which is the technical term for something passing the trachea into the lungs.

— elizabeth armstrong moore, Fox News, "ER doctors insist there's no such thing as 'dry drowning' or 'delayed drowning'," 14 July 2017
His trachea was not fully developed, a condition called tracheomalacia.

— jacqueline howard, CNN, "Families take a risky road trip to save their health care," 11 July 2017
In his new comment on Fitch and colleagues' paper, Lieberman cited Charles Darwin, who reflected on the perilous position of our trachea in 1859: Food has to pass over our windpipe.

— ben guarino, chicagotribune.com, "Why can't monkeys talk? Scientists rumble over a curious question," 9 July 2017
Almost immediately after she was born, Layla was intubated, a tube threaded through her trachea so a machine could pump oxygen into her lungs.

— jessica valenti, Marie Claire, "If Republicans Are Pro-Life, Why Don't They Care About My Child?," 23 June 2017
Hoyne, 23, was born in New York with an abnormal connection between his esophagus and trachea, the passageways that carry food to the stomach and air to the lungs, respectively.

— joseph a. o'brien jr., courant.com, "Raising Awareness: Feeding Tube Helps Him Lead An Active Life," 15 June 2017
Maverick Forbes, 15, has a tube in his trachea that prevents him from talking or eating.

— azia branson, star-telegram, "Brewer High student still recovering after stabbing at school," 5 May 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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TRACHEA Defined for English Language Learners

trachea

play

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

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

medical Definition of trachea

plural tracheae play \-kē-ˌē\ 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