trachea

[ trey-kee-uh or, esp. British, truh-kee-uh ]
/ ˈtreɪ ki ə or, esp. British, trəˈki ə /

noun, plural tra·che·ae [trey-kee-ee or, esp. British, truh-kee-ee] /ˈtreɪ kiˌi or, esp. British, trəˈki i/, tra·che·as.

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.
(in insects and other arthropods) one of the air-conveying tubes of the respiratory system.
Botany. vessel(def 5).

Origin of trachea

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

Example sentences from the Web for trachea

British Dictionary definitions for trachea

trachea
/ (trəˈkiːə) /

noun plural -cheae (-ˈkiːiː)

anatomy zoology the membranous tube with cartilaginous rings that conveys inhaled air from the larynx to the bronchi Nontechnical name: windpipe
any of the tubes in insects and related animals that convey air from the spiracles to the tissues
botany another name for vessel (def. 5), tracheid

Derived forms of trachea

tracheal or tracheate, adjective

Word Origin for trachea

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

Medical definitions for trachea

trachea
[ trākē-ə ]

n. pl. tra•che•as

The airway that extends from the larynx into the thorax where it divides into the right and left bronchi. It is composed of thin incomplete rings of hyaline cartilage connected by a membrane called the annular ligament. windpipe

Other words from trachea

trache•al adj.

Scientific definitions for trachea

trachea
[ trākē-ə ]

Plural tracheae (trākē-ē′) tracheas

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. Also called windpipe
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.

Cultural definitions for trachea

trachea
[ (tray-kee-uh) ]

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