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soft palate

British  

noun

  1. the posterior fleshy portion of the roof of the mouth. It forms a movable muscular flap that seals off the nasopharynx during swallowing and speech

"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

soft palate Scientific  
  1. See under palate


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.

The main point was you could use the back of a spoon to put moderate, consistent pressure on the soft palate to relieve hiccups.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2024

"For dogs with moderate to severe breathing problems, surgery may be necessary to widen their nostrils and shorten their soft palate for better breathing."

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2023

The soft palate could be redundant and low-hanging and basically blocking the airway.

From Scientific American • Jun. 29, 2023

She has already had an operation to treat a defective soft palate and is expected to suffer with health complications throughout her life.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2022

Such loss of tissue is generally seen in the tonsils only, but it may also be encountered in the soft palate.

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