TRACHEA (tracheae)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: tracheae   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does trachea mean? 

• TRACHEA (noun)
  The noun TRACHEA has 2 senses:

1. membranous tube with cartilaginous rings that conveys inhaled air from the larynx to the bronchi

2. one of the tubules forming the respiratory system of most insects and many arachnids

  Familiarity information: TRACHEA used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRACHEA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Membranous tube with cartilaginous rings that conveys inhaled air from the larynx to the bronchi

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

trachea; windpipe

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

cartilaginous tube (a duct with cartilaginous walls)

Meronyms (parts of "trachea"):

epiglottis (a flap of cartilage that covers the windpipe while swallowing)

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

upper respiratory tract (the nose and throat and trachea)

cervix; neck (the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body)

Derivation:

tracheal (relating to or resembling or functioning like a trachea)

Sense 2

Meaning:

One of the tubules forming the respiratory system of most insects and many arachnids

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

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

tubule (a small tube)

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

respiratory system; systema respiratorium (the system for taking in oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide; in terrestrial animals this is accomplished by breathing)

Derivation:

tracheal (relating to or resembling or functioning like a trachea)

 Context examples 

A thin, tube-like instrument used to examine the inside of the trachea, bronchi (air passages that lead to the lungs), and lungs.

(Bronchoscope, NCI Dictionary)

The bronchi are two tubes that branch off the trachea, or windpipe.

(Bronchial Disorders, NIH)

A non-neoplastic disorder that affects the trachea.

(Non-Neoplastic Tracheal Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

A large airway that leads from the trachea (windpipe) to a lung.

(Bronchus, NCI Dictionary)

In humans it usually refers to the trachea.

(Carina, NCI Thesaurus)

The flap that covers the trachea during swallowing so that food does not enter the lungs.

(Epiglottis, NCI Dictionary)

The large air passages that lead from the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs.

(Bronchi, NCI Dictionary)

Having to do with the bronchi, which are the larger air passages of the lungs, including those that lead from the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs and those within the lungs.

(Bronchial, NCI Dictionary)

An endoscopic examination of the pharynx, larynx, trachea and esophagus.

(Panendoscopy, NCI Thesaurus)

So can problems with your trachea or bronchi, which are part of your airway system.

(Breathing Problems, NIH)