ton·sil

(tŏn′səl)

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.

[From Latin tōnsillae, tonsils, diminutive of tōlēs, swollen tonsils.]

ton′sil·lar adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

tonsil

(ˈtɒnsəl)

1. (Anatomy) Also called: palatine tonsil either of two small masses of lymphatic tissue situated one on each side of the back of the mouth.

2. (Anatomy) anatomy any small rounded mass of tissue, esp lymphatic tissue

[C17: from Latin tōnsillae (pl) tonsils, of uncertain origin]

ˈtonsillar, ˈtonsillary adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ton•sil

(ˈtɒn səl)

n.

a prominent oval mass of lymphoid tissue on each side of the throat.

[1595–1605; < Latin tōnsillae (pl.)]

ton′sil•lar, adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

tonsil - either of two masses of lymphatic tissue one on each side of the oral pharynx

faucial tonsil, palatine tonsil, tonsilla

lymphatic tissue, lymphoid tissue - tissue making up the lymphatic system

nasopharynx - cavity forming the upper part of the pharynx

tonsil

noun

Related words
adjectives tonsillar, tonsillary, amygdaline

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

لَوْزَه، لَوْزَةُ الحَلْق

mandlekrční mandle

mandel

Mandel

nielurisarisa

amygdale

mandula

hálskirtill

tonsilla

anginatonzilė

mandele

amandel

migdałek

гланда миндалевидная железа миндалина

bademcik

扁桃腺

tonsil

[ˈtɒnsl] N → amígdala f, angina f (Mex)
to have one's tonsils out → quitarse las amígdalas

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

tonsil

n → Mandel f; to have one’s tonsils out → sich (dat) → die Mandeln herausnehmen lassen; tonsil action or hockey (inf) → Knutscherei f, → Herumknutschen nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

tonsil

[ˈtɒnsl] n → tonsilla
to have one's tonsils out → farsi operare di tonsille

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

tonsil

(ˈtonsil) noun

either of two lumps of tissue at the back of the throat. He had to have his tonsils (taken) out.

ˌtonsilˈlitis (tonsiˈlaitis) noun

painful inflammation of the tonsils. She had / was suffering from tonsillitis.

ton·sil

n. amígdala, tonsila;

cerebellar ___ → ___ cerebelosa;

lingual ___ → ___ lingual;

palatine ___ → ___ palatina;

pharyngeal ___ → ___ faríngea.

tonsil

n amígdala, angina (fam)

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

He wrung out his wet clothes, slipped on his patent-leather shoes, opened the blue- and-white umbrella, and with mincing gait and a heart beating against his tonsils appeared as 'agent for His Royal Highness, the Rajah of Rampur, gentlemen.

View in context

In this report we present the case of a 72-year-old HIV (-) woman who presented with a fast-growing swelling on the right tonsil and was diagnosed with KS following diagnostic tonsillectomy.

Tonsillar Kaposi Sarcoma in an HIV-Negative Patient: A Case Report

Moreover, Dr Fasunla said the possibility of a tonsil removal in children having a long-term health risk is understandable considering the importance of the tonsils and adenoids in the body's immune responses and development.

Removing your child's tonsils may do more harm

They appear as multiple opening on the medial surface of tonsil. One of the crypts is larger and it is called as crypta magna.

A STUDY ON TONSIL CORE CULTURE IN CHRONIC AND RECURRENT TONSILLITIS

'But our observed results that show increased risks for long-term diseases after surgery support delaying tonsil and adenoid removal if possible, which could aid normal immune system development in childhood and reduce these possible later-life disease risks,' Byars said.

Tonsil removal in childhood may increase asthma risk

Associate professor of Otolaryngology and Neurosurgery at URMC, Matthew Miller, M.D., found HPV encased in biofilm inside pockets on the tonsil surface, called tonsil crypts, which is where the HPV-related head and neck cancers often originate.

Cancer-causing virus can lurk in your throat

During adenotonsillectomy under general anesthesia, three samples were collected from every patient: (a) nasopharyngeal wash (NPW): saline flushed into both nasal cavities and collected at the nasopharynx using a sterile syringe; (b) fragment of adenoid tissue (AD), collected with a conventional Beckman curette for adenoidectomy; and (c) fragment of palatine tonsil (PT) collected with a cold-knife scalpel.

The Relationship between Colonization by Moraxella catarrhalis and Tonsillar Hypertrophy

A few months later, based on initial DISE findings of a retroflexed epiglottis with lingual tonsil hypertrophy, he underwent an epiglottopexy with lingual tonsillectomy.

Palatine Tonsil Stenting of the Airway as Determined by Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy

(4) Considering the rarity of the lesion, especially in children, we report a case of hamartoma of the palatine tonsil in a six-month-old infant.

Hamartoma of palatine tonsil: a rare case

Notably the child will have a swelling at the back of the throat with white spots on the tonsil area.

Children's ENT problems - more common than you think! Sometimes surgery is the only option for children's ear, nose and throat problems explains Graham Roblin, a consultant otolaryngologist at Cardiff Spire Hospital