bronchiole: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical, Scientific, Medical
Quick answer
What does “bronchiole” mean?
Any of the fine, branching air passages in the lungs that lead from the bronchi to the tiny air sacs (alveoli).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Any of the fine, branching air passages in the lungs that lead from the bronchi to the tiny air sacs (alveoli).
A small, narrow airway in the respiratory system, crucial for the distribution of air to the alveoli and for regulating airflow resistance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Purely technical/medical in both variants. No cultural connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside technical fields in both dialects. Identical frequency in relevant contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bronchiole” in a Sentence
The [adj] bronchiole [verb]...[Disease/condition] affects the bronchioles.The bronchiole leads to the [structure].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bronchiole” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- bronchiolar epithelium
- a bronchiolar disorder
American English
- bronchiolar inflammation
- bronchiolar cells
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Primary context. Used in medical, biological, and physiological research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used. In everyday talk, people say 'small airways in the lungs'.
Technical
Standard, precise term in pulmonology, anatomy, histology, and respiratory physiology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bronchiole”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bronchiole”
- Misspelling as 'bronchiale' or 'broncheole'.
- Using it as a plural; the plural is 'bronchioles'.
- Confusing it with the larger 'bronchi' or the smaller 'alveoli'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A bronchus is a larger, cartilage-supported airway. A bronchiole is a smaller, finer branch without cartilage in its walls, leading from the bronchi to the alveoli.
No, it is a highly specialised medical/anatomical term. The average person will rarely encounter or use it.
Yes. 'Bronchiolitis' is an inflammation of the bronchioles, common in infants. 'Constrictive bronchiolitis' is a serious condition involving scarring and narrowing of these airways.
The plural is 'bronchioles'.
Any of the fine, branching air passages in the lungs that lead from the bronchi to the tiny air sacs (alveoli).
Bronchiole is usually technical, scientific, medical in register.
Bronchiole: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɒŋ.ki.əʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɑːŋ.ki.oʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BRONCHI' are the big tubes; add 'ole' (like a small hole) to get 'bronchiole' – the small tubes.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LUNGS ARE A TREE: The trachea is the trunk, the bronchi are the main branches, and the bronchioles are the twigs.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a bronchiole?