cricoid: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/TechnicalTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “cricoid” mean?
A ring-shaped cartilage in the larynx (voice box), the lower part of which forms the base of the larynx and connects to the trachea (windpipe).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A ring-shaped cartilage in the larynx (voice box), the lower part of which forms the base of the larynx and connects to the trachea (windpipe).
Describing anything shaped like a ring, but this usage is almost exclusively anatomical and technical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation may have minor variation in vowel quality.
Connotations
Strictly anatomical/medical in both varieties. No cultural or idiomatic connotations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, but standard and equal frequency in the medical/biological fields in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “cricoid” in a Sentence
[anatomical structure] + cricoid (e.g., the cricoid)cricoid + [noun] (e.g., cricoid cartilage)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cricoid” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The cricoid lamina was examined during the post-mortem.
- They applied firm cricoid pressure during induction.
American English
- The cricoid cartilage is a complete ring.
- The surgeon identified the cricoid arch before proceeding.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used exclusively in medical, biological, and anatomical texts, lectures, and discussions.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Essential terminology in otolaryngology (ENT), anesthesiology (for cricoid pressure/Sellick's manoeuvre), and speech pathology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cricoid”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cricoid”
- Mispronouncing as /ˈkrɪkɔɪd/ (with a short 'i') is common but non-standard.
- Misspelling as 'crycoid' or 'criciod'.
- Using it outside of an anatomical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a highly specialized medical/anatomical term. The average native speaker will not know this word unless they work in a relevant field like medicine or biology.
Yes, primarily. As a noun: 'The cricoid is intact.' As an adjective (almost always attributive): 'cricoid cartilage', 'cricoid pressure'. It is not used as a verb or adverb.
In anesthesiology, it's a technique (Sellick's manoeuvre) used during the induction of general anesthesia to compress the esophagus against the cricoid cartilage, preventing stomach contents from entering the airway (aspiration).
It comes from the Greek words 'krikos' (meaning 'ring') and '-eides' (meaning 'form' or 'shape'), hence 'ring-shaped'.
A ring-shaped cartilage in the larynx (voice box), the lower part of which forms the base of the larynx and connects to the trachea (windpipe).
Cricoid is usually technical/medical in register.
Cricoid: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrʌɪkɔɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪˌkɔɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CRIcket OID' (like a sphere, but a ring). A cricket wicket has bails that sit on stumps like a ring; the cricoid is the ring-shaped cartilage that sits at the base of your voice box.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRUCTURE IS A RING/STRUCTURE IS A FOUNDATION. The cricoid is metaphorically the foundational 'signet ring' upon which the rest of the laryngeal structures are assembled.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function or significance of the cricoid cartilage?