cilia
pronunciation
How to pronounce cilia in British English:
UK ['sɪlɪə]
How to pronounce cilia in American English:
US ['sɪlɪr]
Word Origin
- cilia (n.)
- 1715, from Latin cilia, plural of cilium "eyelid, eyelash," perhaps related to celare "to cover, hide," from PIE root *kel- "to conceal" (see cell), but words for this part of the face can be tricky (see brow). It sometimes is pluralized in English, which is an error. Related: Ciliated; ciliary; ciliate.
Example
- 1. The airways are lined with tiny hairs known as cilia .
- 2. As the cilia attempt to clear out the inhaled particles , it can lead to coughing .
- 3. In the nose , cilia help to drain mucus from the nasal cavity down to the throat .
- 4. One explanation is that as the lungs heal , the microscopic hairs lining them - called cilia - begin working again .
- 5. This coughing may last as long as a couple of months , until the cilia are fully recovered .