spiracle

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: spir=a=cle

CIDE DICTIONARY

spiracle, n. [L. spiraculum, fr. spirare to breathe: cf. F. spiracule. See Spirit.].

•  The nostril, or one of the nostrils, of whales, porpoises, and allied animals.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of the external openings communicating with the air tubes or tracheæ of insects, myriapods, and arachnids. They are variable in number, and are usually situated on the sides of the thorax and abdomen, a pair to a segment. These openings are usually elliptical, and capable of being closed. See Illust. under Coleoptera.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any small aperture or vent for air or other fluid.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spiracle, n. (also spiraculum) (pl. spiracles or spiracula) an external respiratory opening in insects, whales, and some fish.

Derivative

spiracular adj.

Etymology

L spiraculum f. spirare breathe

THESAURUS

spiracle

air duct, air hole, air passage, air shaft, air tube, airway, armhole, avenue, blowhole, breathing hole, bullet-hole, bunghole, channel, chute, cringle, deadeye, debouch, door, egress, emunctory, escape, estuary, exhaust, exit, eye, eyelet, floodgate, flume, gasket, grommet, guide, keyhole, knothole, loop, loophole, louver, louverwork, manhole, mousehole, naris, nostril, opening, out, outcome, outfall, outgate, outgo, outlet, peephole, pigeonhole, pinhole, placket, placket hole, pore, port, porthole, punch-hole, sally port, shaft, sluice, spilehole, spout, tap, touchhole, transom, vent, ventage, venthole, ventiduct, ventilating shaft, ventilator, vomitory, way out, weir, wind tunnel

ROGET THESAURUS

spiracle

Airpipe

N airpipe, air pipe, air tube, airhole, blowhole, breathinghole, venthole, shaft, flue, chimney, funnel, vent, nostril, nozzle, throat, weasand, trachea, bronchus, bronchia, larynx, tonsils, windpipe, spiracle, ventiduct, ventilator, louvre, jalousie, Venetian blinds, blowpipe, pipe, jhilmil, smokestack, screen, window screen, ' artificial lung, iron lung, heart and lung machine.