NOSTRIL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nostril mean? 

• NOSTRIL (noun)
  The noun NOSTRIL has 1 sense:

1. either one of the two external openings to the nasal cavity in the nose

  Familiarity information: NOSTRIL used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NOSTRIL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Either one of the two external openings to the nasal cavity in the nose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

anterior naris; nostril

Hypernyms ("nostril" is a kind of...):

naris (any of the openings to the nasal cavities that allow air to flow through the cavities to the pharynx)

Holonyms ("nostril" is a part of...):

nose; olfactory organ (the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals)

 Context examples 

His muzzle went up, his tail stiffened, and his nostrils dilated as he scented the air.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The nose is large, with very open nostrils.

(Field Spaniel, NCI Thesaurus)

A whiff of warm air ascended to his nostrils, and there, curled up under the snow in a snug ball, lay Billee.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Wolf Larsen did not seem affected, however; though I noticed, when we returned to the deck, a slight twitching of the nostrils, a perceptible quickness of movement.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The inner portion of the nostrils of the nose.

(Internal Nare, NCI Thesaurus)

A dose calculation unit expressed in microliter(s) per nostril.

(Microliter per Nostril, NCI Thesaurus)

Quiescent as he now sat, there was something about his nostril, his mouth, his brow, which, to my perceptions, indicated elements within either restless, or hard, or eager.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Enlargement of the nostrils during breathing; although there are many possible causes, it can be a sign of respiratory distress in young infants.

(Nasal Flaring, NCI Thesaurus)

The nose is wide and the nostrils open.

(Japanese Chin, NCI Thesaurus)

The eyes had narrowed till they were eagle-like, and Martin almost caught his breath as he noted the eagle beak with its dilated nostrils, defiant, assertive, aggressive.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)