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# epiglottis

noun (the epiglottis, epiglottises)

«epiglottis» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. The epiglottis is a small flap at the back of your throat that closes when you swallow, so food goes down to your stomach and not into your lungs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#m1)
2. It opens again when you breathe so air can reach your windpipe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#m2)

### In the lessons

A body word in science and health lessons about swallowing, breathing and choking. If food goes «down the wrong way», the epiglottis did not close in time and you cough. Phrases: «the epiglottis closes», «flap of the epiglottis».

### Examples

- The epiglottis stops food going into your lungs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#x1)
- When you swallow, the epiglottis covers your windpipe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#x2)
- If you laugh while eating, the epiglottis may not close in time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#x3)
- Coughing helps clear food that went down the wrong way past the epiglottis. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#x4)
- We labelled the epiglottis on a diagram of the throat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#x5)
- The epiglottis is made of soft cartilage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#x6)
- Don't talk with your mouth full, because your epiglottis has to choose air or food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#x7)
- The doctor explained the epiglottis with a model. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/#x8)

### Note

Say «ep-ih-GLOT-is». Usually «the epiglottis», since each person has one. Do not confuse with the uvula, the dangly bit you see at the back of your mouth.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «epiglottis» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epiglottis/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«epiglottis» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/epiglottis.html) on Mova free.