spiracle

spi·ra·cle

S s

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [spahy-ruh-kuh l, spir-uh-]
- /ˈspaɪ rə kəl, ˈspɪr ə-/
- /ˈspaɪ.rə.kəl/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [spahy-ruh-kuh l, spir-uh-]
- /ˈspaɪ rə kəl, ˈspɪr ə-/

Definitions of spiracle word

noun spiracle a breathing hole; an opening by which a confined space has communication with the outer air; air hole. 1
noun spiracle Zoology. an aperture or orifice through which air or water passes in the act of respiration, as the blowhole of a cetacean. an opening in the head of sharks and rays through which water is drawn and passed over gills. one of the external orifices of the tracheal respiratory system of certain invertebrates, usually on the sides of the body. 1
noun spiracle any of several paired apertures in the cuticle of an insect, by which air enters and leaves the trachea 0
noun spiracle a small paired rudimentary gill slit just behind the head in skates, rays, and related fishes 0
noun spiracle any similar respiratory aperture, such as the blowhole in whales 0
noun spiracle a protrusion of sediment into a lava flow, formed by the explosive transition of water into steam 0

See all 12 definitions of spiracle

Information block about the term

Origin of spiracle

First appearance:

before 1300

One of the 15% oldest English words

1300-50; Middle English < Latin spīrāculum air hole, equivalent to spīrā(re) to breathe + -culum -cle2

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Spiracle

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Spiracle

spiracle popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 62% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

spiracle usage trend in Literature

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