Your Nostrils Take Turns Through the Day
The nose is the organ of smell and breathing. One side does most of the work at a time.
The nose is the projecting organ of smell and breathing on the face. Most people breathe mainly through one nostril at a time, and the dominant side swaps every few hours. This is the nasal cycle: blood vessels swell on one side and shrink on the other, giving the congested side time to recover moisture while the open side handles airflow. *Nose* is Old English *nosu*, related to *nostril*, which is literally a nose-thirl, a nose hole.
- The organ of smell. *A blocked nose.*
- A sense for something. *A nose for news.*
- The front of a vehicle. *The nose of the plane.*
- Nostril — a nose hole. *A nostril.*
- Old English — *nosu*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | nose | A nose. |
| Verb | nose | Nosing. |
| Adjective | nosy | Nosy. |
| Compound | nostril | A nostril. |
| Old English | nosu | A nose. |
- She has a nose for a bargain.Instinct.
- One nostril dominates at a time.Biology.
- Nostril means nose hole.Etymology.
Nose phrases
- Pay through the nose — pay far too much
- Keep your nose clean — stay out of trouble
- Cut off your nose to spite your face — harm yourself in anger
- Under your nose — plainly visible but unnoticed
- Nose to the grindstone — work steadily and hard
Old English *nosu*, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch *neus* and German *Nase*, and to Latin *nasus*.
What is the nasal cycle?
The pattern by which one nostril handles most airflow while the other rests, swapping every few hours.
What does nostril literally mean?
Nose hole. The second element is thirl, an old word for a hole or opening, related to thrill.