epiglottis

Meaning

A cartilaginous organ in the throat of terrestrial vertebrates covering the glottis when swallowing to prevent food and liquid from entering the trachea, and in Homo sapiens also a speech organ.

Synonyms

uvula

larynx

syrinx

vocal cords

Translations

epiglotis

épiglotte

Epiglottis

Kehldeckel

epiglottide

epiglote

epiglotis

epiglottite

strotklep

larynx

corde vocale

επιγλωττίδα

غلصم

Kehlkopfdeckel

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌɛp.ɪˈɡlɒt.ɪs/

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin epiglōttis, from Ancient Greek ἐπῐγλωττῐ́ς (epĭglōttĭ́s, “valve covering the larynx”), from ἐπῐ- (epĭ-, “upon, over”) + γλωττῐ́ς (glōttĭ́s, “glottis, mouth of the windpipe”); equivalent to epi- (“upon; above”) + glottis.