axilla

[ ak-sil-uh ]

noun

, plural ax·il·lae [ak-, sil, -ee].

1. Anatomy. the armpit.
2. Ornithology. the corresponding region under the wing of a bird.
3. Botany. an axil.

axilla

/ ækˈsɪlə /

noun

1. the technical name for the armpit
2. the area on the undersurface of a bird's wing corresponding to the armpit

Word History and Origins

Origin of axilla¹

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1610–20

Word History and Origins

Origin of axilla¹

C17: from Latin: armpit

Example Sentences

According to the group, a more recent study found higher levels of one paraben, n-propylparaben, in the axilla quadrant of the breast where the highest proportion of breast tumors is found.

From Scientific American

Axilla: This part of the human body rhymes with gorilla and can smell just as bad.

From Washington Post

This means that most women will not need to have a second surgery to the axilla after a cancerous node has been found.

From BBC

The trial showed clearly that radiotherapy was just as efficient as surgery in preventing cancer coming back in the axilla after a sentinel node biopsy had been done.

From BBC

How the Mystery Was Solved: Dr. Jacobien Hoogerwerf, the internist-in-training who examined the anxious young woman at the Academic Medical Center, noticed that the bluish pallor was visible across the patient's cheeks, chest, arms and back, but not under her arm, in the axilla.

From New York Times