cochlea

noun co·chlea \ˈkō-klē-ə, ˈkä-klē-\

: the part of the inner ear that contains the endings of the nerve that carries information about sound to the brain

plural co·chle·as or co·chle·ae \-klē-ˌē, -ˌī\

Full Definition of COCHLEA

: a hollow tube in the inner ear of higher vertebrates that is usually coiled like a snail shell and contains the sensory organ of hearing — see ear illustration

— co·chle·ar \ˈkō-klē-ər, ˈkä-\ adjective

See cochlea defined for English-language learners

See cochlea defined for kids

Origin of COCHLEA

New Latin, from Latin, snail, snail shell, from Greek kochlias, from kochlos snail; probably akin to Greek konchē mussel

First Known Use: 1688

COCHLEAR Defined for Kids

cochlea

noun co·chlea \ˈkō-klē-ə, ˈkä-\

plural co·chle·as or co·chle·ae \-ˌē, -ˌī\

Definition of COCHLEA for Kids

: a coiled tube in the inner part of the ear that contains the endings of the nerve which carries information about sound to the brain

Medical Dictionary

cochlea

noun co·chle·a \ˈkō-klē-ə, ˈkäk-lē-\

plural co·chle·as or co·chle·ae \ˈkō-klē-ˌē, ˈkäk-lē-ˌē, -ˌī\

Medical Definition of COCHLEA

: a division of the bony labyrinth of the inner ear coiled into the form of a snail shell and consisting of a spiral canal in the petrous part of the temporal bone in which lies a smaller membranous spiral passage that communicates with the saccule at the base of the spiral, ends blindly near its apex, and contains the organ of Corti

—co·chle·ar \ˈkō-klē-ər, ˈkäk-lē-ər\ adjective