adenoid

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a collection of lymphatic tissue in the throat behind the uvula (on the posterior wall and roof of the nasopharynx)
  2. adjective relating to or resembling lymphatic glands or lymphoid tissue

Etymology

Late 19th century borrowing from French adénoïde, from New Latin adenoīdēs, from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓δενοειδής (ădenoeidḗs, “glandular”), from ᾰ̓δήν (ădḗn, “gland”) + -ο- (-o-) + -ειδής (-eidḗs, “-oid, -like”); equivalent to aden- + -oid. The noun is derived from ellipsis of tumeur adénoïde (“glandular tumor”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

pharyngeal tonsil, Luschka's tonsil, third tonsil, tonsilla pharyngealis, tonsilla adenoidea

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading