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 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 the last tracheal cartilage and forms a cartilage division between the two bronchi.
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
The lower point of the handle of the axe, is bent towards the carina.
From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles
In some specimens there is only one whorl under the carina; in other specimens there are distinctly two whorls.
From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles
Curated by the museum’s Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer with Beatriz Cifuentes and Carina Martinez, the Biennial telegraphs its problems as soon as you walk in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
She also makes the assumption that Carina is not a “full pay” family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2025
Carina Baskett, grant writer for Georgia Tech's Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, also worked on the study.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 12, 2024
Mrs. Carina explained that she wanted a backup in case of poor weather in one location.
From New York Times ● Oct. 27, 2023
Their very names were disingenuous, and told you nothing about their contents, their creators, or their managers: Carina, Gemstone, Octans III, Glacier Funding.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
External median area: Hymenoptera; the median of the three cells or areas between the median and lateral longitudinal carinae: = second lateral area.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
"I'm going to leave the Acquataine Cluster and return to Carinae."
From The Dueling Machine by Bova, Ben
He was domiciled in a palace of a residence on the Carinae, which he had leased for the short term of his proposed stay in Rome.
From Andivius Hedulio Adventures of a Roman Nobleman in the Days of the Empire by White, Edward Lucas
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.
