syrinx

American  

[sir-ingks] / ˈsɪr ɪŋks /

noun

plural

syringes, syrinxes

1. Ornithology. the vocal organ of birds, situated at or near the bifurcation of the trachea into the bronchi.

2. (initial capital letter) a mountain nymph of Arcadia who was transformed, in order to protect her chastity from Pan, into the reed from which Pan then made the panpipe.

3. a panpipe.

4. a narrow corridor in an ancient Egyptian tomb.

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syrinx ¹ British  

/ sɪˈrɪndʒɪəl, ˈsɪrɪŋks /

noun

1. the vocal organ of a bird, which is situated in the lower part of the trachea

2. (in classical Greek music) a panpipe or set of panpipes

3. anatomy another name for the Eustachian tube

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Syrinx ² British  

/ ˈsɪrɪŋks /

noun

1. Greek myth a nymph who was changed into a reed to save her from the amorous pursuit of Pan. From this reed Pan then fashioned his musical pipes

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Other Word Forms

• syringeal adjective

Etymology

Origin of syrinx

1600–10; (< Latin ) < Greek sŷrinx pipe, pipelike object

Example Sentences

The three studies are built on a foundation of collaborative and interdisciplinary syrinx research with physiologists and developmental biologists that Clarke has been leading for over a decade.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

Chad Eliason, a senior research scientist at the Field Museum of Natural History and former postdoctoral scholar at the Jackson School, was also a major contributor to these syrinx projects and others.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

The specimen is the oldest syrinx to be discovered.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

It is an air-driven system in the nose, analogous to the larynx, or voice box, in humans and other mammals and the comparable syrinx in birds.

From Reuters • Mar. 2, 2023

The following were the names of the instruments: cittern, bagpipe, clarion, rebec, psaltery, syrinx, sackbut, regals, gittern, shalm, timbral, and cymbals!

From From John O'Groats to Land's End by Naylor, Robert