Uvula

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈjuːv.jÊŠ.lÉ™/
• US IPA: /ˈjuːv.jÉ™.lÉ™/
• Homophones: uvular in non-rhotic accents

Origin

From Late Latin Å«vula ("little grape"), diminutive of Latin Å«va ("grape").

Full definition of uvula

Noun

1. (anatomy) The fleshy appendage that hangs from the back of the palate, that closes the nasopharynx during swallowing.

Usage notes

The Oxford English Dictionary (second edition, 1989) marks this word as not naturalized in English.

Synonyms

• (appendage hanging from the palate) palatine uvula, tonsils

Derived terms

• uvular
• uvulatome, uvulotome
• uvulatomy, uvulotomy
• uvulitis