[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tonsil.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / tonsil

[← T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/T/)

# tonsil

«tonsil» in Mova's school dictionary: **One of two small soft lumps at the back of your throat…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (a tonsil, tonsils)

### meaning for a pupil

One of two small soft lumps at the back of your throat, one on each side, which help fight germs. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tonsil/#m1)

### sense in the lessons

In health and science lessons, tonsils are part of the immune system. When they get infected and swollen (tonsillitis), your throat hurts; some children have them taken out in an operation (a tonsillectomy). Phrases: «swollen tonsils», «have your tonsils out», «tonsillitis».

### examples

- The doctor shone a light to look at my tonsils. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tonsil/#x1)
- My tonsils are swollen and my throat hurts. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tonsil/#x2)
- My cousin had her tonsils out and ate lots of ice cream afterwards. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tonsil/#x3)
- Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tonsil/#x4)
- You have two tonsils at the back of your throat. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tonsil/#x5)
- Say «aah» so I can see your tonsils. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tonsil/#x6)

### note

Usually plural «tonsils» (there are two). Related: tonsillitis (double l). Myth: the dangly thing in the middle of your throat is the uvula, not a tonsil.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «tonsil» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tonsil/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.