tonsil

[ ton-suhl ]

nounAnatomy.
  1. a prominent oval mass of lymphoid tissue on each side of the throat.

Origin of tonsil

1
First recorded in 1595–1605, tonsil is from the Latin word tōnsillae (plural) the tonsils

Other words from tonsil

  • ton·sil·lar, ton·sil·ar, ton·sil·lar·y [ton-suh-ler-ee], /ˈtɒn səˌlɛr i/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tonsil in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tonsil

tonsil

/ (ˈtɒnsəl) /


noun
  1. Also called: palatine tonsil either of two small masses of lymphatic tissue situated one on each side of the back of the mouth: Related adjective: amygdaline

  2. anatomy any small rounded mass of tissue, esp lymphatic tissue

Origin of tonsil

1
C17: from Latin tōnsillae (pl) tonsils, of uncertain origin

Derived forms of tonsil

  • tonsillar or tonsillary, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012