vagina

American  

[vuh-jahy-nuh] / vəˈdʒaɪ nə /

noun

plural

vaginas, vaginae

1. Anatomy, Zoology.

   1. the passage leading from the uterus to the vulva in certain female mammals.

   2. a sheathlike part or organ.

2. Botany. the sheath formed by the basal part of certain leaves where they embrace the stem.

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vagina British  

/ vəˈdʒaɪnə /

noun

1. the moist canal in most female mammals, including humans, that extends from the cervix of the uterus to an external opening between the labia minora

2. anatomy biology any sheath or sheathlike structure, such as a leaf base that encloses a stem

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vagina Scientific  

/ və-jī′nə /

1. The tube-shaped part of the reproductive tract in female mammals that is connected to the uterus at one end and opens to the outside of the body on the other end. The fully developed fetus passes through the vagina during birth.

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vagina Cultural  

1. A tubelike passageway in the female that connects the external genitals with the uterus.

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Other Word Forms

• vaginal adjective

Etymology

Origin of vagina

1675–85; < New Latin; Latin vāgīna sheath

Compare meaning

How does vagina compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• vulva vs. vagina

Example Sentences

Prolapse happens when one or more of the organs in the pelvis, such as the bladder, bowel or uterus, slip from their usual position and bulge into the vagina.

From BBC

"There's a lot of healing that happens. It takes about six weeks for the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size. Any tears in the vagina or perineum are also healing."

From BBC

The researchers say their findings do not justify the practice of vaginal seeding, where some new parents smear babies with a swab taken from the vagina.

From BBC

"Stacey's disease was incredibly interesting because there was a lesion on the bowel, full thickness through the vagina, which then swept around to the right to take out the right kidney," he explained.

From BBC

In some cases the fallopian tubes, ovaries, lymph glands, and part of the vagina, can also be removed.

From BBC

Related Words

• genitals