otolith
noun
oto·lith
ˈō-tə-ˌlith 
: a calcareous concretion in the inner ear of a vertebrate or in the otocyst of an invertebrate
Examples of otolith in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kitchin believes that lateral movement of the sort involved in rollerblading and skiing stimulates the otolith, a piece of calcium carbonate that sits on a person’s inner ear and triggers feelings of flow and euphoria.
—
Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024
An otolith is an inner ear bone found in salmon and other fish that develops a new layer each year.
—Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 30 July 2022
Using a bony growth called an otolith that exists in the head of most fish, Brown and others counted growth rings, estimating older fish sometimes reached the age of 14.
—Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 1 May 2021
For years, scientists have used an inner ear bone called an otolith to estimate the lifespan of fish.
—Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 6 Apr. 2020
The oxygen molecules in the fish ear bones, or otoliths, carry a record of life history.
—Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2017
Scientists use the growth structure of otoliths to estimate a fish's age.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 12 Jan. 2020
The researchers then used a microscope to count the growth rings on each slice of otolith.
—Sean Landsman, National Geographic, 2 Aug. 2019
Changes to otolith size could affect fish hearing and orientation, researchers say.
—Elizabeth Preston, Science | AAAS, 20 June 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024
An otolith is an inner ear bone found in salmon and other fish that develops a new layer each year.
—Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 30 July 2022
Using a bony growth called an otolith that exists in the head of most fish, Brown and others counted growth rings, estimating older fish sometimes reached the age of 14.
—Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 1 May 2021
For years, scientists have used an inner ear bone called an otolith to estimate the lifespan of fish.
—Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 6 Apr. 2020
The oxygen molecules in the fish ear bones, or otoliths, carry a record of life history.
—Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2017
Scientists use the growth structure of otoliths to estimate a fish's age.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 12 Jan. 2020
The researchers then used a microscope to count the growth rings on each slice of otolith.
—Sean Landsman, National Geographic, 2 Aug. 2019
Changes to otolith size could affect fish hearing and orientation, researchers say.
—Elizabeth Preston, Science | AAAS, 20 June 2019
Dictionary Entries Near otolith
Cite this Entry
“Otolith.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otolith. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
otolith
noun
oto·lith
ˈōt-ᵊl-ˌith
: a calcareous concretion in the inner ear of a vertebrate or in the otocyst of an invertebrate that is especially conspicuous in many bony fishes where it forms a hard body and in most of the higher vertebrates where it is represented by a mass of small calcareous otoconia
called also statolith
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share