esophagus

[ih-sof-uh-guhs, ee-sof-]

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

plural

esophagi 

1. a muscular passage connecting the mouth or pharynx with the stomach in invertebrate and vertebrate animals; gullet.

esophagus

/ iːˈsɒfəɡəs, iːˌsɒfəˈdʒiːəl /

noun

1. the US spelling of oesophagus

esophagus

plural

esophagi 

1. The muscular tube in vertebrates through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach.

esophagus

1. The muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach and serves as a passageway for food. (See digestive system.)

Other Word Forms

• esophageal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of esophagus¹

1350–1400; < New Latin oesophagus < Greek oisophágos gullet, literally, channel for eating ( oiso-, akin to oísein, future infinitive of phérein to carry + -phagos eating); replacing Middle English ysophagus < Medieval Latin

Related Words

• larynx