nasal

¹

[ney-zuhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to the nose.

   the nasal cavity.

2. Phonetics.,  pronounced with the voice issuing through the nose, either partly, as in French nasal vowels, or entirely (as in m, n, or the ng ofsong ).

noun

1. Phonetics.,  a nasal speech sound.

nasal

²

[ney-zuhl]

noun

Armor.

1. a bar or narrow plate used with an open helmet as a defense for the nose.

nasal

/ ˈneɪzəl, neɪˈzælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the nose

2. phonetics pronounced with the soft palate lowered allowing air to escape via the nasal cavity instead of or as well as through the mouth

noun

1. a nasal speech sound, such as English m, n, or ng

2. another word for nosepiece

nasal

1. Relating to or involving the nose.

Other Word Forms

• nasality noun
• nasalism noun
• seminasality noun
• nasally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of nasal¹

1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) < Medieval Latin *nāsālis, equivalent to Latin nās ( us ) nose + -ālis -al ¹

Origin of nasal²

First recorded in 1470–80; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin nāsāle, noun use of neuter of nāsālis (unattested) nasal ¹ ( def. ); replacing Middle English nasel, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of nasal¹

C17: from French from Late Latin nāsālis, from Latin nāsus nose

Example Sentences

Their method relies on carefully designed nanostructures made from extremely small materials that can carry potent cancer-fighting compounds into the brain through simple nasal drops.

Read more on Science Daily

The likes of turmeric shots, ginger drinks and fancy nasal sprays do nothing to boost your immune system, according to Dr McCartney.

Read more on BBC

Boris pinched his own nose between two fingers to make a nasal, honking duck voice.

Read more on Literature

Children aged two to 16 can also get vaccinated with a nasal spray.

Read more on BBC

Most children are offered the vaccine in a nasal spray rather than an injection.

Read more on BBC