soft palate

noun

: the fold at the back of the hard palate that partially separates the mouth from the pharynx

Examples of soft palate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This included his upper and lower eyelids, upper and lower jaws, teeth, nose, cheek structure, neck skin, hard palate and parts of his soft palate. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024 Sniffing strength depends on the position of the soft palate, the tissue in the back of the mouth that controls airflow through the nasal passage. IEEE Spectrum, 10 Aug. 2010 About a quarter of the nondisabled volunteers screened for the study didn’t have enough control over their soft palates to use the device. IEEE Spectrum, 10 Aug. 2010 Palatal petechiae can be lesions or bruising on the soft palate of a person's mouth. Reven Widener, Health, 31 May 2023 See all Example Sentences for soft palate 

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soft palate was in 1749

Dictionary Entries Near soft palate

Cite this Entry

“Soft palate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soft%20palate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

soft palate

noun
: the membranous and muscular fold suspended from the posterior margin of the hard palate and partially separating the mouth cavity from the pharynx

More from Merriam-Webster on soft palate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!