alveolar

adjective

al·​ve·​o·​lar al-ˈvē-(ə-)lər 

1

: of, relating to, resembling, or having alveoli

especially : of, relating to, or constituting the part of the jaws where the teeth arise, the air-containing compartments of the lungs, or glands with secretory cells about a central space

2

phonetics : articulated with the tip of the tongue touching or near the ridge of bone behind the teeth in the upper jaw

\d\, \n\, and \t\ are alveolar consonants.

alveolarly adverb

Examples of alveolar in a Sentence

The word “two” begins with an alveolar sound.

Recent Examples on the Web

Inside our lungs, white blood cells called alveolar macrophages work to keep the airways clean by engulfing and digesting debris, including dust and dead cells. —Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2015

Some of the most common causes include lung damage from congestive heart failure, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, interstitial lung diseases, lung cancer, and viral pneumonia.49 Congestive Heart Failure Heart failure occurs if your heart is unable to pump blood throughout your body efficiently. —Leah Groth, Health, 30 Mar. 2024

She was diagnosed with Stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer. —Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023

Covid patients can develop scar tissue and permanent changes to the alveolar walls that limit airflow even after the inflammation and fluid of an active infection has cleared. —Hang Do Thi Duc, New York Times, 31 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing alveolar

• alveolar process
• alveolar ridge

Kids Definition

alveolar

adjective

al·​ve·​o·​lar al-ˈvē-ə-lər 

: of, relating to, resembling, or having alveoli

Medical Definition

alveolar

adjective

al·​ve·​o·​lar al-ˈvē-ə-lər 

1

: of, relating to, resembling, or having alveoli

2

: of, relating to, or constituting the part of the jaws where the teeth arise, the air-containing cells of the lungs, or glands with secretory cells about a central space