Word
esophagus
Phoneticsesoph·a·gus
/ɪˈsɑfəɡəs/
UK spelling · oesophagus
Definition
n. the tube in your body that carries food and liquid from your mouth down to your stomach.
n. the muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. Primarily used in medical or anatomical contexts; spelled 'oesophagus' in British English.
Examples
“Food travels down the esophagus to reach the stomach.”
“The doctor performed an endoscopy to check for any blockages or irritation in the patient's esophagus.”
“The muscular walls of the esophagus contract in a rhythmic wave called peristalsis, ensuring that food moves downward even if the person is not standing upright.”
Examples
simple
“Food travels down the esophagus to reach the stomach.”
contextual
“The doctor performed an endoscopy to check for any blockages or irritation in the patient's esophagus.”
complex
“The muscular walls of the esophagus contract in a rhythmic wave called peristalsis, ensuring that food moves downward even if the person is not standing upright.”
Usage
Commonly used in medical contexts; the spelling 'esophagus' is standard in American English.
Pitfall
the food goes to the esophagus
the food goes down the esophagus
In English, we typically use the preposition 'down' to describe the movement of food through this organ.
Real-World Examples
“They are thought to heighten the risk of the disease by causing heat damage to the cells which line the oesophagus, which is also known as the body’s foodpipe.” “On Earth, it helps saliva pool in the mouth and pushes food and liquid down from the mouth to your esophagus after each swallow.” Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/esophagus