spiracle
- noun
- /ˈspɪrɪkəl/
- Specialized
- Fish breathe through spiracles located near their gills, which help them absorb oxygen from the water.
Examples
-
Bees have small spiracles on their bodies that allow them to breathe while flying.
-
The sounds are coming from his spiracle, not from his mouth.
-
Their spiracles are closed tightly in the shower or in a conventional shampoo.
Blog text (5) -
That's so his spiracle, that’s the hole on top of his head, from which he breathes, ...can come out last.
-
The insect uses its spiracle to take in air, ensuring it gets enough oxygen for its flight.
Synonyms
A hole on top of a whale or dolphin's head that the animal uses to breathe
Surface Forms
Etymology
Spiracle comes from the Latin root spir- (from spirare) meaning 'to breathe', and it once named a small breathing opening. So a spiracle is a little 'breathing' hole that animals like insects and some fish use to take in air or water.