nostril
gb/nˈɑstɹɪl/ us/nˈɑstɹɪl/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
one of the nose openings
One of the two holes in your nose that you breathe through.
Usage pattern:
[something] goes into/out of [someone]'s nostril(s)
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *a nostril* when they mean the whole nose; a nostril is only one opening (left or right).
Synonyms
naris (Technical/anatomical term; less common in everyday English.)
|
nasal opening (More general and slightly technical; often used in medical contexts.)
|
nose hole (Informal and less precise.)
Collocations
left nostril
|right nostril
|one nostril
|both nostrils
|blocked nostril
|nostril hair
|nostril piercing
|flare your nostrils
|through the nostrils
|from the nostrils
Themes
body
|health
|daily_life
Examples
- She breathed in slowly through her nostrils.
- Blood started to drip from his left nostril.
- My right nostril feels blocked when I lie down.
Learner examples
- Air goes in through my nostrils.
- I can’t breathe well because one nostril is blocked.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nostril
IPA
GB/nˈɑstɹɪl/
US/nˈɑstɹɪl/
Syllables & stress
nos - tril (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nos)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: nostril
- Plural: nostrils
Word family
Forms
nostrils
noun
Core family
nose
noun A1
nasal
adjective
Related words
nosebleed
noun
Advanced or less common
nasally
adverb
Expressions
flare your nostrils
1/flˈɛɹ jˈʊɹ nˈɑstɹəlz/
fixed phrase
widen nostrils, often with emotion
To make your nose openings bigger, often because you are angry or breathing hard.
Examples
- He flared his nostrils and clenched his jaw.
- Her nostrils flared as she tried to keep her temper under control.
- The runner’s nostrils flared as he gasped for air.
nostril flare
1/nˈɑstɹɪl flˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
widening of the nostrils
When the nostrils get wider, often from hard breathing or emotion.
Examples
- The nurse noted nostril flare and rapid breathing.
- You could see nostril flare as he fought to stay calm.
- In infants, nostril flare can be a warning sign of respiratory distress.
nostril hairs
1/nˈɑstɹɪl hˈɛɹz/
fixed phrase
small hairs inside the nostrils
Small hairs inside your nose openings.
Examples
- Cold air can make your nostril hairs feel stiff.
- He worried that his nostril hairs were showing.
- The doctor said the nostril hairs help filter dust.
nostril piercing
1/nˈɑstɹɪl pˈɪɹsɪŋ/
fixed phrase
piercing in the nostril
A small ring or stud worn in one nostril (or the piercing for it).
Examples
- She got a nostril piercing for her birthday.
- The piercer cleaned the area before doing the nostril piercing.
- He took out his nostril piercing for work.