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Definition of "carotid" [ca•rot•id]

  • Either of the two major arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood to the head. (noun)
  • Of or relating to either of these arteries. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "carotid" in a sentence
  • "It lies opposite the disc between the fifth and sixth cervical vertebræ, and at this level the common carotid artery may be compressed against the _carotid tubercle_ on the transverse process of the sixth cervical vertebra."
  • "Experts consider this condition, called carotid intima media thickness, a precursor to heart attacks and strokes."
  • "However, the prevention-cure equation gets a bit more complicated when considering a stroke-preventing surgery called carotid endarterectomy."