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uvula
noun
uvu·la
ˈyü-vyə-lə
plural uvulas or uvulae
ˈyü-vyə-ˌlē
-ˌlī
: the pendent fleshy lobe in the middle of the posterior border of the soft palate
Examples of uvula in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Maybe that video thumbnail showing off Donaldson’s pearly whites instead of his uvula will help.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 23 Sep. 2023
In the medical genetics department at Rienhoff’s alma mater, a colleague introduced him to Bart Loeys, an expert physician and geneticist who found Beatrice had a split uvula, the projection of the soft palate at the back of the throat.
—Delthia Ricks, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2011
Elevate your soft pal-ate (the back of the roof of your mouth)and your uvula (the fleshy protrusion that hangs from your soft palate) while making the vowel sound a.
—Paul Kita, Men's Health, 15 Dec. 2022
The uvula is the light-bulb pull-cord at the top of the stairs to the basement to the soul.
—Talia Argondezzi, The New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2022
The flap is similar to a uvula in humans, which is pushed back when swallowing to prevent food or fluids from ending up in the space behind the nose.
—Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Jan. 2022
As an adult content creator who launched her own OnlyFans-esque platform, Unfiltrd, Matto receives dozens of requests for custom content per day, ranging from photos of her uvula to vials of her own poop.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2022
More serious symptoms include swelling of the lips, tongue and uvula (that thing that hangs down in the back of the throat).
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 21 June 2021
Caleb had a floppy larynx and Sarah had a congested uvula that could have obstructed their airways.
—Rod McGuirk, Star Tribune, 24 Mar. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uvula.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near uvula
Cite this Entry
“Uvula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uvula. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
uvula
noun
uvu·la
ˈyü-vyə-lə
plural uvulas or uvulae
-ˌlē
-ˌlī
: the small fleshy fingerlike part hanging down from the back part of the roof of the mouth
Medical Definition
uvula
noun
uvu·la
ˈyü-vyə-lə
1
: the pendent fleshy lobe in the middle of the posterior border of the soft palate
2
: a lobe of the inferior vermis of the cerebellum located in front of the pyramid
More from Merriam-Webster on uvula
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about uvula
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