oesophagus

/ iːˈsɒfəɡəs, iːˌsɒfəˈdʒiːəl /

noun

1. the part of the alimentary canal between the pharynx and the stomach; gullet

Other Word Forms

• oesophageal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oesophagus¹

C16: via New Latin from Greek oisophagos, from oisein, future infinitive of pherein to carry + -phagos, from phagein to eat

Example Sentences

Alongside pancreatic cancer, the study says these include oesophagus, stomach and lung cancers, which all still have 10-year survival rates below 20%, after only a small amount of progress since the 1970s.

From BBC

It also affects his internal skin, causing his mouth and oesophagus to blister and making eating and swallowing painful.

From BBC

The report noted that a review of available evidence suggests snus use is associated with an increased risk of oesophagus and pancreatic cancer in comparison to non-smokers, and to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

From BBC

She now has cirrhosis of the liver and varices - enlarged blood vessels in the oesophagus that make swallowing hard.

From BBC

He was told he had cancer in his oesophagus, liver and spleen on 5 October.

From BBC