Dictionary

airway en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈeɹ.we/ (Scotland)
• /ɛɹ.weɪ/ (General-American)
• /ˈɛə.weɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈeː.wæɪ/ (Australia)
• /ˈɛɚ.weɪ/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈeə.wæɪ/ (New-Zealand) without the cheer–chair merger
• /ˈɜː(ɹ).weː/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
• /ˈiə.wæɪ/ New Zealand, cheer–chair merger

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- Proto-Indo-European *-r Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewsér Proto-Hellenic *auhḗr Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)bor. Latin āēr Old French airbor. Middle English aire English air Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *wegaz Proto-West Germanic *weg Old English weġ Middle English wey English way English airway From air + way.

Meanings

1. The trachea.
2. (in-plural) The trachea and bronchial tree.
   • David Williams, a scientist who evaluates antivenoms for WHO, says the biggest risk to people who are bitten by these snakes is paralysis, "which can prevent them from being able to control their airway and breathing and they can potentially suffocate and die as a result of that." 2025 May 2, Ari Daniel, “He let snakes bite him some 200 times to create a better snakebite antivenom”, in NPR:
   • The burners on gas stoves release pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, a key element in smog that can irritate airways and may contribute to the development of asthma, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2024 May 23, Michael Copley, “A lawsuit accuses a gas stove manufacturer of failing to warn consumers about pollution risks”, in NPR:
3. A flight path used by aeroplanes.
   • But British Airways Flight 112 made the trek in under five hours, setting a new record for the fastest subsonic commercial flight across the Atlantic Ocean. 2020 February 9, Alina Selyukh, “British Airways Sets Record, Crossing The Atlantic In Under 5 Hours In Strong Winds”, in NPR:
4. A roadway used for ventilation.

Forms

Deriveds

upper airway · positive airway pressure · Victor airway · lower airway · esophago-airway · purple airway

Synonyms

trachea · windpipe

Translations (16)

mi ararangi (flight path used by aeroplanes) · ka საჰაერო ხაზი (flight path used by aeroplanes) · ga aerbhealach (flight path used by aeroplanes) · es vía/ruta aérea/aeronáutica (flight path used by aeroplanes) · pt rota aeronáutica (flight path used by aeroplanes) · cmn 空中航線 /空中航线 (flight path used by aeroplanes) · es aerovía (flight path used by aeroplanes) · fi lentoreitti (flight path used by aeroplanes) · ja 航空路 (flight path used by aeroplanes) · fr route aérienne (flight path used by aeroplanes) · pl linia lotnicza (flight path used by aeroplanes) · ru возду́шная тра́сса (flight path used by aeroplanes) · eo aervojo (flight path used by aeroplanes) · pt aerovia (flight path used by aeroplanes) · de Flugroute (flight path used by aeroplanes) · ka ავიახაზი (flight path used by aeroplanes)