PALATINE TONSIL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does palatine tonsil mean? 

• PALATINE TONSIL (noun)
  The noun PALATINE TONSIL has 1 sense:

1. either of two masses of lymphatic tissue one on each side of the oral pharynx

  Familiarity information: PALATINE TONSIL used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PALATINE TONSIL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Either of two masses of lymphatic tissue one on each side of the oral pharynx

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

faucial tonsil; palatine tonsil; tonsil; tonsilla

Hypernyms ("palatine tonsil" is a kind of...):

lymphatic tissue; lymphoid tissue (tissue making up the lymphatic system)

Holonyms ("palatine tonsil" is a part of...):

nasopharynx (cavity forming the upper part of the pharynx)

 Context examples 

A groove between the base of the tongue and the palatine tonsil.

(Glossopharyngeal Sulcus, NCI Thesaurus)