trachea

[ trey-kee-uhor, especially British, truh-kee-uh ]

noun

, plural tra·che·ae [trey, -kee-ee, tr, uh, -, kee, -ee], tra·che·as.

1. Anatomy, Zoology. the tube in humans and other air-breathing vertebrates extending from the larynx to the bronchi, serving as the principal passage for conveying air to and from the lungs; the windpipe.
2. (in insects and other arthropods) one of the air-conveying tubes of the respiratory system.
3. Botany. vessel ( def 5 ).

trachea

/ trəˈkiːə /

noun

1. anatomy zoology the membranous tube with cartilaginous rings that conveys inhaled air from the larynx to the bronchi Nontechnical namewindpipe
2. any of the tubes in insects and related animals that convey air from the spiracles to the tissues
3. botany another name for vessel tracheid

trachea

/ trā′kē-ə /

, Plural tracheae trā′kē-ē′

1. The tube in vertebrate animals that leads from the larynx to the bronchial tubes and carries air to the lungs. In mammals the trachea is strengthened by rings of cartilage.
2. Also called windpipe
3. Any of the tiny tubes originating from the spiracles of many terrestrial arthropods and forming a branching network that brings air directly to body cells.

trachea

1. The tube connecting the mouth to the bronchial tubes that carries air to the lungs ; the windpipe.

Derived Forms

• traˈcheal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trachea¹

1350–1400; Middle English trache < Medieval Latin trāchēa, for Late Latin trāchīa < Greek trācheîa, short for artēría trācheîa rough artery, i.e., windpipe

Word History and Origins

Origin of trachea¹

C16: from Medieval Latin, from Greek trakheia , shortened from ( artēria ) trakheia rough (artery), from trakhus rough

Example Sentences

The researchers discovered high levels of virus in the animals' nasal passages, trachea and lungs and moderate-to-low virus levels in other organs, consistent with H5N1 infections found in other mammals.

From Science Daily

Charles Darwin famously remarked on the ridiculousness of the fact that "every particle of food and drink we swallow has to pass over the orifice of the trachea with some risk of falling into the lungs."

From Salon

Even the foremost pioneer of evolutionary biology, Charles Darwin, famously remarked on the ridiculousness of the fact that "every particle of food and drink we swallow has to pass over the orifice of the trachea with some risk of falling into the lungs."

From Salon

They are called noninvasive because they don’t require trachea surgery to open the airway, like ones used in hospitals.

From Seattle Times

The larynx functions like an antechamber to the windpipe, or trachea, with a flap of tissue called the epiglottis keeping food and drink from falling down the windpipe.

From New York Times

Related Words

• esophagus
• larynx