epiglottis

UK: /ˌɛpɪˈɡlɒtɪs/ US: (ep′i glot′is)

Inflections of 'epiglottis' (n):

epiglottises

npl

epiglottides

npl

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ep•i•glot•tis  (ep′i glot′is), n., pl. -glot•tis•es, -glot•ti•des (-glot′i dēz′). [Anat.]

1. Anatomy a thin, valvelike, cartilaginous structure that covers the glottis during swallowing, preventing the entrance of food and drink into the larynx. See diag. under larynx. 

• Greek epiglōttís; see epi-, glottis
• 1605–15;

ep′i•glot′tal, ep′i•glot′tic, ep•i•glot•tid•e•an  (ep′i glo tid′ē ən), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

epiglottis / ˌɛpɪˈɡlɒtɪs/ noun ( -tises, -tides / -tɪˌdiːz/)

1. a thin cartilaginous flap that covers the entrance to the larynx during swallowing, preventing food from entering the trachea

ˌepiˈglottal, ˌepiˈglottic adjective