pharyngeal

American  

[fuh-rin-jee-uhl, -juhl, far-in-jee-uhl] / fəˈrɪn dʒi əl, -dʒəl, ˌfær ɪnˈdʒi əl /

Also pharyngal

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated near the pharynx.

2. Phonetics. articulated with retraction of the root of the tongue and constriction of the pharynx.

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noun

1. Phonetics. a pharyngeal speech sound.

pharyngeal British  

/ ˌfærɪnˈdʒiːəl, fəˈrɪŋɡəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated in or near the pharynx

2. phonetics pronounced or supplemented in pronunciation with an articulation in or constriction of the pharynx

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noun

1. phonetics a pharyngeal speech sound

Other Word Forms

• postpharyngal adjective
• postpharyngeal adjective
• subpharyngal adjective
• subpharyngeal adjective
• subpharyngeally adverb

Etymology

Origin of pharyngeal

1820–30; < New Latin pharynge ( us ) pharyngeal ( pharyng-, -eous ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

When a human being or another mammal snores, it's because air is flowing past the soft tissues in the pharyngeal airway, such as the tongue, soft palette and throat muscles.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2024

They have a motor that generates positive pressure that’s transmitted via a tube and a mask into the pharyngeal space.

From Scientific American • Jun. 29, 2023

The pharyngeal slits are next to the atrium, which empties into the atriopore.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Some invertebrate chordates use the pharyngeal slits to filter food out of the water that enters the mouth.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

When it is perceptible, however, it is usually found on the visible pharyngeal and respiratory mucous membranes.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various