cochlea
noun/ˈkɒkliə/
/ˈkəʊkliə/, /ˈkɑːkliə/
(plural cochleae
(anatomy)/ˈkɒkliiː/
/ˈkəʊkliiː/, /ˈkɑːkliiː/
)- a small curved tube inside the ear that contains a small part that sends nerve signals to the brain when sounds cause it to vibrateTopics Bodyc2Word Originmid 16th cent. (used to denote spiral objects): from Latin, ‘snail shell or screw’, from Greek kokhlias. The current sense dates from the late 17th cent.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Check pronunciation:
cochlea