tonsil

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“
Pretty sure I looked in my mouth towards the tonsil area and didn't see anything.

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Definitions (7)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun A small oral mass of lymphoid tissue, especially either of two such masses embedded in the lateral walls of the opening between the mouth and the pharynx, of uncertain function, but believed to help protect the body from respiratory infections.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (4)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

  • The stink was the evilest, tonsil-rubbing kind, and Nellie went into her purse for the mint-smelling chest plaster. —  InterzoneScienceFictionandFantasyMagazine#215
  • They are surprisingly common and cane be easily removed by pressing a clean q tip or finger on the tonsil, when I did this two more came out and after much prodding none have come out so they must be all gone. —  Serendip's Exchange -
  • One piece spears the tonsil, while the other chops it out, Bonner said. —  Messenger News
  • I don't want to see you play tonsil-hockey or watch you procreate while I'm trying to learn about Edward R. Murrow, and I'm sure he wouldn't either. —  The Daily Evergreen News Feed
  • When he got in there he noticed one tonsil was herneated at —  Serendip's Exchange -
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This word has been looked up 98 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. From Latin tōnsillae, tonsils, diminutive of tōlēs, swollen tonsils.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from French tonsille =Italian tonsilla, from Latin tonsilla, in plural tonsillæ, the tonsils; apparently a transferred use (of which the reason is not clear) of tonsilla, tosilla, a sharp-pointed pole stuck in the ground to fasten vessels to the shore, apparently diminutive of tonsa, an oar (orig. a pole?).
 

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/ˈtɑnsɪl/
by American Heritage

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