TONSIL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tonsil mean? 

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

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

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• 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 ("tonsil" is a kind of...):

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

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

nasopharynx (cavity forming the upper part of the pharynx)

 Context examples 

It affects lymph nodes and other sites including the tonsils, gastrointestinal tract, spleen, liver, soft tissues, skin, and oral cavity.

(Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, NCI Thesaurus)

The immune system includes white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system, such as the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and bone marrow.

(Immune system, NCI Dictionary)

A domain for physiological findings related to the immune system, including the thymus, spleen and tonsils.

(Immune System Findings Domain, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A non-metastasizing neoplasm that arises from the tonsil.

(Benign Tonsillar Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

A nonkeratinizing carcinoma which occurs predominantly in the nasopharynx but also in the tonsils and rarely in other anatomic sites.

(Nasopharyngeal Type Undifferentiated Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)

The complex group of organs like thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymphatic system, hematopoetic system and cells like lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages that defends the body against infection or disease.

(Immune system, NCI Thesaurus)

Any component of the complex group of organs including the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymphatic system, hematopoietic system and cells like lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages that defends the body against infection or disease.

(Immune System Part, NCI Thesaurus)

An acute inflammation of the tonsils caused by viruses or bacteria.

(Acute Tonsillitis, NCI Thesaurus)

The bodily system of organs and tissues, primarily the bone marrow, spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes, involved in the production of blood.

(Hematopoietic System, NCI Thesaurus)

Cancer that forms in tissues of the oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth, including the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils).

(Oropharyngeal cancer, NCI Dictionary)