nostril

IPA/ˈnɒstrəl/
KK[nˈɑstrɪl]IPA/ˈnɑːstrəl/

nostril — noun

  • nostrilsingular
  • nostrilsplural

1. each small breathing opening near the tip of the nose, used for taking air in an

1.nounB2
Definition

each small breathing opening near the tip of the nose, used for taking air in and sending it out again

Example

Omar covered one nostril and breathed out slowly during the clinic test.

pattern: cover one nostril and breathe out

Cold pool water rushed into Constanza's nostrils when she dived too fast.

collocation: water rush into [possessive] nostrils

Common collocations
  • blocked nostril
  • left nostril
  • right nostril
  • flared nostrils
  • smoke sting your nostrils
  • pinch your nostrils shut
Synonyms
  • naris

    a technical medical term for one nostril

Usage Note

This noun is often used in the plural when both openings are meant together, especially with verbs such as 'flare', 'widen', and 'breathe through'.

Common Mistakes

One side of my nose is blocked.
One nostril is blocked.
'nostril' names one breathing opening, not the whole side of the nose.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Nostril' means one of the two outer breathing openings of the nose. 'Nose' is the whole body part, so it is less precise when you want to mention just one opening. 'Naris' is a medical or scientific term for the same opening, and most learners will only see it in health or anatomy writing. 'Nasal passage' refers to the channel farther inside the nose, not the opening you can see from outside. In everyday English, people usually say 'one nostril is blocked' or 'his nostrils flared' rather than using the more technical words.

nose ↗naris ↗nasal passage

Common collocations

Nouns

  • blocked nostril
  • flared nostrils
  • left nostril
  • right nostril

Phrases

  • breathe through one nostril
  • pinch your nostrils shut

Prepositions

  • through one nostril
  • into the nostrils

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

This word comes from Old English. It joins an old word for 'nose' with another old word meaning 'hole' or 'opening', so the original idea was simply 'the hole of the nose'. The form changed over time into modern English 'nostril'.