nasal

Connected with the nose.

• The doctor gave me a nasal spray.
• A cold can block your nasal passages.
• She had surgery to repair a nasal bone.

Similar words: nosely, nosey

Common phrases: nasal spray, nasal passages, nasal congestion

Describing a voice that sounds as though it comes through the nose.

• His voice sounded nasal.
• She sang in a slightly nasal tone.
• A blocked nose made his speech unusually nasal.

Common phrases: nasal voice, nasal tone, nasal singing

Describing a speech sound made by letting air pass through the nose.

• French has several nasal vowels.
• The sound at the end of this word is nasal.
• We practised nasal consonants in class.

Opposites: oral

Common phrases: nasal vowel, nasal consonant, nasal sound

Describing a sharp, piercing sound.

• A nasal cry broke the silence.
• The bird gave a harsh, nasal call.
• We heard a nasal tone above the engine noise.

Similar words: shrill, piercing

Common phrases: nasal cry, nasal call

A small hard plate or scale on an animal’s nose.

• The nasal lies beside the nostril.
• Each nasal was measured under the microscope.
• The researcher noted the shape of the fish’s nasals.

Similar words: nasal scale

Common phrases: large nasal, paired nasal