esophagus
Americannoun
plural
esophaginoun
plural
esophagiOther Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of esophagus
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
Explanation
The esophagus is the muscular tube that conveys food from the pharynx at the back of the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus is sometimes called the gullet. Humans and other vertebrates have an esophagus. The word comes from the Greek word oisophagos, which means gullet, from the roots oisein, meaning to carry, and phagein, meaning to eat. In British English, the spelling is oesophagus. You should always chew your food thoroughly because you don't want it to get stuck in your esophagus on the way down, unless you're a heron and can swallow fish whole.
Vocabulary lists containing esophagus
Gross, Anatomy!
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Dear Martin
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Figure 23.13 Esophagus The upper esophageal sphincter controls the movement of food from the pharynx to the esophagus.
From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013
If severe or extensive, all the symptoms described under "Rupture of the Esophagus" may be present.
From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Jackson, Chevalier
I said it was like the sound of the sea beating against the granite cliffs of the Ionian Esophagus: or words to that effect.
From Behind the Beyond and Other Contributions to Human Knowledge by Leacock, Stephen
The Esophagus, or gullet, is a tube eight or nine inches long, connecting the pharynx with the stomach.
From Physiology and Hygiene for Secondary Schools by Walters, Francis M.
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.
