carotid Hear it!

carotid definition

ca·rotid (kə rät′id)

adjective

designating, of, or near either of the two principal arteries, one on each side of the neck, which convey the blood from the aorta to the head

Etymology: Gr karōtis, pl. karōtides, the two great arteries of the neck < karoun, to plunge into sleep or stupor: so called because compression of these was believed to cause unconsciousness

noun

a carotid artery

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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