Zoology. a keellike part or ridge, especially a ridge of bone on the ventral side of the sternum of birds.
Botany. the two conjoined lower petals of a pea or bean flower that enclose the stamen and style.
Astronomy. the Keel, a southern constellation, containing the bright star, Canopus: one of the constellations into which Argo is divided.
a female given name, form of Carin.
1695–1705; < Latin: keel; cf. careen
First recorded in 1695–1705
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The carina is the last tracheal cartilage and forms a cartilage division between the two bronchi.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015
The inferior end of the trachea divides into right and left bronchi at an area known as the carina.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015
The carina is a raised structure that contains specialized nervous tissue that induces violent coughing if a foreign body, such as food, is present.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
Lepas australis, carina, external view of, magnified twice.
From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles
In both cases, supposing the coralline to be erect, the capitulum is placed upwards, with its orifice towards the branch to which it is attached, and consequently with its carina outwards.
From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles
Carina Hong had been a student in Ono’s research program in 2020, before she won the Morgan Prize and the Schafer Prize as math’s top undergraduate woman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
When Carina tells her that she didn’t homeschool her son for kindergarten but sent him to public school, Suzanne is mildly horrified.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2025
Astronomers are used to taking pictures of our galaxy's star factories, like the Orion Nebula and the Carina Nebula, she explains.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 14, 2023
Mrs. Carina explained that she wanted a backup in case of poor weather in one location.
From New York Times ● Oct. 27, 2023
“Because I want to marry you. Carina, ti amo,” he explained, and he drew her gently back down to the pillow.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Foot wide; shell turriculated, with carinated whorls, the carinae tuberculated or spiny.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various
Spiracular area: the anterior of the three areas between lateral and pleural carinae on the metanotum of some Hymenoptera: =first pleural area.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.
Carinulate: a surface with small and rather numerous carinae.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.
Middle pleural area: in Hymenoptera; the median of the three areas between lateral and pleural carinae: = 2d pleural area.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.
Lateral carinae: in Orthoptera; on the head, extend downward from the front margin of the eyes: on prothorax extend along each lateral margin of the dorsum.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.
In the one large group of specimens examined by me, in Mr. Cuming's possession, all were attached symmetrically to the coralline, as in the case of S. vulgare, capitulum upwards, and their carinas outwards.
From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles
There’s indeed something cosmic about “Eta Carinae: Divinatory Claims,” a vast drawing of billowing red specks that takes part of its name from a distant star system.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 14, 2022
Figure 22.20 shows a wonderful image of the very massive star Eta Carinae, with a great deal of ejected material clearly visible.
From Textbooks ● Oct. 13, 2016
With a mass at least 100 times that of the Sun, the hot supergiant Eta Carinae is one of the most massive stars known.
From Textbooks ● Oct. 13, 2016
It took the starship two weeks to make the journey from Carinae to the Acquataine Cluster.
From The Dueling Machine by Bova, Ben
"I'm going to leave the Acquataine Cluster and return to Carinae."
From The Dueling Machine by Bova, Ben
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
