airway

noun

air·​way ˈer-ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
1
: a passage for a current of air (as in a mine or to the lungs)
2
: a designated route along which airplanes fly from airport to airport
especially : such a route equipped with navigational aids
3
4
: a channel of a designated radio frequency for broadcasting or other radio communication

Examples of airway in a Sentence

a patient with a partially blocked airway
Recent Examples on the Web The body's natural response to get rid of chemicals that enter the airways and lungs from tobacco use causes coughing. Claire Gillespie, Health, 17 Mar. 2024 Trump kept a light schedule in the final days of the race compared to Haley, who outpaced him with more than 40 events and flooded the airways with television ads. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 25 Feb. 2024 Within the animal's respiratory tract, evolved nasal and oral plugs protect the airways from water when breathing and feeding. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 In the respiratory tract, the evolved nasal and oral plugs protect the airways from water when the marine mammal breathes and eats. Amarachi Orie, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 The drug eases breathing by suppressing inflammation in the airways. Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2024 Montgomery dislodged an unspecified object from the airway of the baby, who began gasping for air and crying, police said in the social media post. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024 This acute physiological response — that includes lowered blood pressure, shock and constriction of the airways — can be deadly. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2024 Ozone levels can inflame your airways and raise the risks of an asthma attack, among other health problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of airway was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near airway

Cite this Entry

“Airway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airway. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

airway

noun
air·​way -ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
1
: a passage for a current of air
especially : one through which air passes to and from the lungs
2
: a regular route for aircraft
especially : one equipped with aids for guiding aircraft
3

Medical Definition

airway

noun
air·​way -ˌwā How to pronounce airway (audio)
: a passageway for air into or out of the lungs
specifically : a device passed into the trachea by way of the mouth or nose or through an incision to maintain a clear respiratory passageway (as during anesthesia, convulsions, or in obstructive laryngitis) see upper airway

More from Merriam-Webster on airway

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