concha

¹ American  

[kong-kuh] / ˈkɒŋ kə /

noun

• conchae
  plural

1. Anatomy.

   1. a shell-like structure, especially the external ear.

   2. any turbinate bone, especially in the nose.

2. Architecture. conch.

---

concha ² American  

[kong-kuh] / ˈkɒŋ kə /

noun

• conchae
  plural

1. a disk, traditionally of hammered silver and resembling a shell or flower, used as decoration on belts, harness, etc.

---

concha British  

/ ˈkɒŋkə /

noun

1. any bodily organ or part resembling a shell in shape, such as the external ear

2. Also called: conch.  architect the half dome of an apse

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• conchal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• conchae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of concha¹

1605–15; < New Latin, Latin: conch

Origin of concha²

From Spanish (southwestern U.S.), from Late Latin conchula, diminutive of Latin concha “shell”; see concha ¹, conch

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

concha conchae

“If you’re gonna mess around with the vanilla or chocolate concha, think twice about it,” the user warned.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025

In anticipation of the new “Barbie” film release this weekend, bakeries across the country have created a new type of Barbie to consume: a traditional Mexican concha.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2023

My favorite is the sugar paste, because it reminds me of the topping on a concha, a Mexican sweet bread roll.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 30, 2022

Miss Matriarch's outfit was spot-on in that every item was piled on to convey her identity: the beaded earrings, the concha belt, the ribbon skirt, everything.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2022

“I like the way you think, dude,” Joe said, picking concha frosting crumbs from my plate.

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez

Figure 7.13 Lateral Wall of Nasal Cavity The three nasal conchae are curved bones that project from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The nasopharynx is flanked by the conchae of the nasal cavity, and it serves only as an airway.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The largest of the conchae is the inferior nasal concha, which is an independent bone of the skull.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The nasal passages contain the conchae and meatuses that expand the surface area of the cavity, which helps to warm and humidify incoming air, while removing debris and pathogens.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

These consist of 14 bones, with the paired maxillary, palatine, zygomatic, nasal, lacrimal, and inferior conchae bones and the unpaired vomer and mandible bones.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013