urethra

noun

ure·​thra yu̇-ˈrē-thrə 

plural urethras or urethrae yu̇-ˈrē-(ˌ)thrē 

: the canal that in most mammals carries off the urine from the bladder and in the male serves also as a passageway for semen

urethral

yu̇-ˈrē-thrəl 

adjective

Examples of urethra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Your pelvic floor is essentially a sling of muscles that surrounds each of your holes down there, including the one at the end of your urethra where pee comes out. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 9 Dec. 2024

However, if left untreated, urethritis can lead to long-term damage to the urethra. —Jennifer Welsh Published, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024

Stage 4 is when the stone passes from the bladder into the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the body. —Jay N. Yepuri, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2024

Freshwater worm eggs enter human hosts through the skin and circulate throughout the body, damaging multiple organs, including the liver, intestine, bladder, and urethra. —Trirupa Chakraborty, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek ourēthra, from ourein to urinate

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

urethra

noun

ure·​thra yu̇-ˈrē-thrə 

plural urethras or urethrae -thrē 

: a canal that in most mammals carries off urine from the bladder and in the male serves as a passage for the release of semen from the body

urethral

-thrəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

urethra

noun

ure·​thra yu̇-ˈrē-thrə 

plural urethras or urethrae -(ˌ)thrē 

: the canal that in most mammals carries off the urine from the bladder and in the male serves also as a passageway for semen

urethral

-thrəl 

adjective