airway

American  

[air-wey] / ˈɛərˌweɪ /

noun

1. an air route equipped with emergency landing fields, beacon lights, radio beams, etc.

2. a passageway by which air passes from the nose or mouth to the air sacs of the lungs.

3. Medicine/Medical. a tubelike device used to maintain adequate, unobstructed respiration, as during general anesthesia.

4. any passage in a mine used for purposes of ventilation; an air course.

5. airways,

   1. the band of frequencies, taken collectively, used by radio broadcasting stations.

      The news was sent out over the airways immediately.

   2. airwaves.

   3. airline.

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airway British  

/ ˈɛəˌweɪ /

noun

1. an air route, esp one that is fully equipped with emergency landing fields, navigational aids, etc

2. a passage for ventilation, esp in a mine

3. a passage down which air travels from the nose or mouth to the lungs

4. med a tubelike device inserted via the throat to keep open the airway of an unconscious patient

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Etymology

Origin of airway

First recorded in 1905–10; air ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

Unvaccinated mice developed a strong Th2 response and accumulated mucus in their airways.

From Science Daily

Then, while the medicine works its magic and helps open her airways, I hang out doing homework or reading or eating a snack.

From Literature

The condition has been linked to inflammation in the lungs that narrows the airways and makes breathing difficult.

From Science Daily

This setup encouraged the cells to mature into a structure that closely resembles the lining of the nasal passages and lung airways.

From Science Daily

Last year, three of Starship’s five launches exploded at unexpected points on their flight paths, twice raining flaming debris over congested commercial airways and disrupting flights.

From Salon