philtrum

American  

[fil-truhm] / ˈfɪl trəm /

noun

plural

philtra

1. Anatomy. the vertical groove on the surface of the upper lip, below the septum of the nose.

2. a philter.

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philtrum British  

/ ˈfɪltrəm /

noun

1. the indentation above the upper lip

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Etymology

Origin of philtrum

1600–10; < Latin: love philter < Greek phíltron love philter, dimple in upper lip. See phil-, -tron

Example Sentences

He said the latter has certain physical traits that pediatricians can recognize such as thin lips, narrow eyelid openings and a smooth philtrum — the ridge between the nose and mouth.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 13, 2022

I was afraid it would look silly, a teeny tiny philtrum against the great blank face of our house.

From Washington Post • Sep. 12, 2021

Rough edges frame the philtrum, chin and bits of cheek around her lips, and the piece rests on a spindly plaster stem that descends a couple of inches to a broader foot.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2019

And in Movember, all of these issues come to the fore, where so many guys think they are cute and clever for 30 days while they get a little fuzziness around the philtrum.

From Time • Nov. 5, 2014

This philtrum was the one which produced all the appearance of death.

From Sidonia, the Sorceress : the Supposed Destroyer of the Whole Reigning Ducal House of Pomerania — Volume 1 by Meinhold, Wilhelm