nasal

[ ney-zuhl ]

/ ˈneɪ zəl /

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See synonyms for: nasality on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or relating to the nose: the nasal cavity.

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 of song).

noun

Phonetics. a nasal speech sound.

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Origin of nasal

1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) <Medieval Latin *nāsālis, equivalent to Latin nās(us) nose + -ālis-al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM nasal

na·sal·i·ty

[ney-zal-i-tee], /neɪˈzæl ɪ ti/, na·sal·ism, nounsem·i·na·sal·i·ty, noun

Words nearby nasal

narwhal, nary, nary a, N.A.S., NASA, nasal, nasal index, nasalize, nasally, nasal spray, Nasarawa

Other definitions for nasal (2 of 2)

nasal²

[ ney-zuhl ]

/ ˈneɪ zəl /

noun Armor.

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

Origin of nasal

First recorded in 1470–80; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin nāsāle, noun use of neuter of nāsālis (unattested) nasal¹; replacing Middle English nasel, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin, as above

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nasal in a sentence

During the trials, researchers did weekly nasal swabs on participants.
The CDC declares Super Bowl parties a no-go|Claire Maldarelli|February 4, 2021|Popular-Science
Inside your nasal cavity, millions of olfactory neurons are waiting for the next smelly molecule to fly in.
The Doctor Will Sniff You Now - Issue 95: Escape|Lina Zeldovich|February 3, 2021|Nautilus
The test uses a nasal swab to collect a sample and produces results within minutes using a plastic device similar to a home pregnancy test.
A fast, at-home coronavirus test will be available to Americans this year|William Wan|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
In recent days, state-run tabloid Global Times noted that the procedure was controversial, with some doctors saying nasal and throat swabs were more effective because coronavirus is a respiratory infection.
China rolls out anal swab coronavirus test, saying it’s more accurate than throat method|Eva Dou|January 27, 2021|Washington Post

Our noses are densely packed with olfactory cells, huddled high up in our nasal passages.
Scientists Made a Biohybrid Nose Using Cells From Mosquitoes|Shelly Fan|January 26, 2021|Singularity Hub
Called by the hoity toity term of nasal insufflation, this method was used by some in Asia till a few hundred years ago.
Powdered Measles Vaccine Could Be Huge for Developing World|Kent Sepkowitz|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Among them were some horrifying images of severe damage to nasal tissue caused by a child lodging a button battery in her nose.
Kids Eat the Darndest Things: Laundry Pods, Teething Necklaces, and More Of The Weirdest Stuff Sending Kids to the E.R.|Russell Saunders|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a nasal spray it keeps the passages moist and bacteria free, ideal for travel or ducted heating systems.
These Are The 15 Supplements to Keep In Your Medicine Cabinet|Ari Meisel|December 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Xylitol Nasal Spray - xylitol is a sugar alcohol and has antibacterial properties.
These Are The 15 Supplements to Keep In Your Medicine Cabinet|Ari Meisel|December 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
My partner gives me quite a hard time about it, but not as hard a time, she says, as I'm giving my nasal tubes.
Ali Smith: How I Write|Noah Charney|January 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Gunn possessed a purple complexion which attained to full vigor of coloring in the nasal region.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
For more than another hour that sweet nasal monotonous voice trilled on.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
This pronunciation of the nasal vowels in French is, as is well known, an important factor in the famous "accent du Midi."
Frdric Mistral|Charles Alfred Downer
The bacillus is found in the nasal secretions and in sputum; it dies in from twelve to twenty-four hours when dried.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
From my experience with patients I doubt whether many of them would submit to the intra-nasal spark.
The Treatment of Hay Fever|George Frederick Laidlaw

British Dictionary definitions for nasal

nasal

/ (ˈneɪzəl) /

adjective

of or relating to the nose

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

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

another word for nosepiece (def. 1)

Derived forms of nasal

nasality (neɪˈzælɪtɪ), nounnasally, adverb

Word Origin for nasal

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for nasal

nasal

[ nā′zəl ]

Relating to or involving the nose.