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Synonyms
Examples of artery in a Sentence
Word History
Middle English arterie, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French arteire, arterie, borrowed from Latin artēria "trachea, bronchial tubes (in plural artēriae), artery," borrowed from Greek artēría, from ar- (contracted from *awer-), base of aeírein "to join, attach, harness" (of uncertain origin) + -tēr, agentive suffix + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at aorta
Note: Compare, without the second suffix, Greek artḗr "something by which a burden is carried" (Septuagint). The semantic relation between the verb aeírein and the sense "trachea" parallels that between the verb and the derivative aortḗ "aorta, bronchial tubes" (see aorta). The extension of the meaning from "trachea" to "artery" is presumably because the arteries were believed to carry air to the extremities of the body as well as blood.
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing artery
- brachiocephalic artery
- carotid artery
- cerebral artery
- coronary artery
- coronary artery bypass
- coronary artery bypass graft
- coronary artery bypass grafting
- coronary artery disease
- deep temporal artery
- femoral artery
- innominate artery
- middle temporal artery
- pulmonary artery
- subclavian artery
- superficial temporal artery
- temporal artery
- temporal artery thermometer
Dictionary Entries Near artery
Cite this Entry
“Artery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artery. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
artery
nounMedical Definition
artery
nounMore from Merriam-Webster on artery
Nglish: Translation of artery for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of artery for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about artery
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