adenoids

A doctor uses a small mirror to examine a child's adenoids.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • Lymphoid tissue: "adenoids" refers to a mass of lymphatic tissue located at the back of the nasal cavity, above the roof of the mouth. In children, they are part of the immune system, but they often shrink or are removed in adulthood if they cause problems.
   • Medical condition: Informally, "adenoids" can also denote the pathological enlargement of this tissue, leading to breathing difficulties, ear infections, or snoring.

Usage Examples

• (The lymphoid tissue at the back of the nose is enlarged.)
• (The tissue obstructs nasal airflow.)
• (Surgical removal of the tissue.)

Advanced Usage

• "Adenoid facies": A medical term describing the characteristic facial appearance (open mouth, elongated face) associated with chronically enlarged adenoids.

  • The child's adenoid facies improved after the adenoids were treated. (The facial features changed due to the tissue problem.)

• "Adenoid hypertrophy": The medical term for abnormal enlargement of the adenoids.

  • Adenoid hypertrophy is common in young children and can cause sleep apnea. (Enlarged adenoids leading to breathing pauses during sleep.)

Variants and Related Words

• Adenoid (adj): relating to or resembling the adenoids.

  • The adenoid tissue was inflamed. (The tissue in the nasal cavity was swollen.)

• Adenoidectomy (n): the surgical removal of the adenoids.

  • The surgeon performed an adenoidectomy to relieve the child's ear infections. (Surgery to remove the tissue.)

Synonyms

• Pharyngeal tonsil: The anatomical term for the adenoids, as they are a type of tonsil located in the pharynx.
• Nasopharyngeal tonsil: Another medical term specifying the location in the nasopharynx.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms using "adenoids" in everyday English. The word is primarily medical and technical.