ENGLISH
REFERENCE

urethra

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˌjɝˈiθɹə// UK //jˈɔːɹɛθɹɐ// ure·thra

n. the tube in your body that carries urine from your bladder to the outside. In men, it also carries sperm.

n. the tubular duct that conveys urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body. In males, it serves a dual function by also transporting sperm during ejaculation.


SIMPLE

The doctor checked the urethra for any signs of infection.

CONTEXTUAL

During the physical examination, the physician used a scope to inspect the urethra for blockages or inflammation.

COMPLEX

The anatomical structure of the urethra varies significantly between genders, with the male version being considerably longer and serving a dual physiological purpose.

Origin

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek οὐρήθρα (ourḗthra, “the passage for urine”), from οὐρέω (ouréō, “to make water”). Recorded in English since 1634.

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