nounplural noun tragi/ˈtreɪɡʌɪ/ /ˈtreɪdʒʌɪ/
Anatomy ZoologyA prominence on the inner side of the external ear, in front of and partly closing the passage to the organs of hearing.
‘They are often united by a band of skin across the forehead, and a tragus is present (a fleshy lobe that protrudes from the ear).’- ‘The crown of the skull is inflated, and they have large, well-separated ears with a small tragus.’
- ‘Absorption may also be facilitated by manipulating the tragus to help distribute the drops throughout the external auditory canal.’
- ‘A quick pull on the earlobe, a push on the tragus and a look into the canal confirmed the diagnosis of external otitis.’
- ‘Megabats have relatively simple external ears; microbats often have large and relatively complex pinnae, including an enlarged tragus or antitragus.’
Origin
Early 17th century from modern Latin, from Greek tragos, literally ‘goat’ (with reference to a tuft of hair, likened to a goat’s beard, that may grow on the tragus, especially in older men).
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