tonsil
noun
ton·sil
ˈtän(t)-səl 
1
: either of a pair of prominent masses of lymphoid tissue that lie one on each side of the throat between two folds of soft tissue that bound the fauces
2
: any of various masses of lymphoid tissue (such as the adenoids) that are similar to tonsils
Examples of tonsil in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Usually, people refer to the palantine tonsils visible at the back of the throat, but tonsillar tissue also includes lingual (located in the base of the tongue), tubal (upper throat behind nose, above soft palate) and adenoid (high in throat behind the nose).
—
Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
That changed when a head-and-neck surgeon put on a glove, poked the back of my wife’s throat and said one of her tonsils felt concerningly hard.
—Paul Thornton, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2025
In September 2024, Golden saw Dr. Cynthia Hayes, an ENT in Detroit, who told her that her tonsils had grown back, and her left tonsil was nearly back to full size.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025
Hallmark Channel actor John Reardon revealed in a Christmas Eve Instagram post that he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer.
—Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 25 Dec. 2024
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Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
That changed when a head-and-neck surgeon put on a glove, poked the back of my wife’s throat and said one of her tonsils felt concerningly hard.
—Paul Thornton, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2025
In September 2024, Golden saw Dr. Cynthia Hayes, an ENT in Detroit, who told her that her tonsils had grown back, and her left tonsil was nearly back to full size.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025
Hallmark Channel actor John Reardon revealed in a Christmas Eve Instagram post that he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer.
—Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tonsil
Dictionary Entries Near tonsil
Cite this Entry
“Tonsil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonsil. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tonsil
noun
ton·sil
ˈtän(t)-səl
: either of a pair of oval-shaped masses of spongy tissue that lie one on each side of the throat at the back of the mouth
Medical Definition
tonsil
noun
ton·sil
ˈtän(t)-səl
1
a
: either of a pair of prominent masses of lymphoid tissue that lie one on each side of the throat between the anterior and posterior pillars of the fauces and are composed of lymph follicles grouped around one or more deep crypts and except for the exposed surface which is covered only by epithelium are surrounded by diffuse lymphoid tissue in a fibrous capsule
called also palatine tonsil
c
2
: a rounded prominence situated medially on the lower surface of each lateral hemisphere of the cerebellum
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