noun

syrinx

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Syrinx (noun) means a set of pipes of different lengths bound together and played by blowing across the top, also known as panpipes. Example: “The musician played a haunting tune on the syrinx.”

noun

A set of pipes of different lengths bound together and played by blowing across the top, also known as panpipes.

"The musician played a haunting tune on the syrinx."

"A syrinx made of reeds hung on the wall of the museum display."

"He learned to carve a simple syrinx from bamboo."

medical An abnormal, fluid-filled, tube-shaped cavity that can form within the spinal cord or brain stem.

"Scans revealed a syrinx pressing on the patient's spinal cord."

"Surgeons discussed draining the syrinx to relieve the pressure."

"A syrinx can sometimes form after a spinal injury."

technical The organ in a bird's throat, near where the windpipe splits into the bronchi, that produces its song and calls.

"A bird's syrinx allows it to sing two notes at once."

"Researchers studied how the syrinx shapes different birdsong patterns."

"Unlike mammals, birds make sound using a syrinx rather than a larynx."

How to use syrinx

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSyrinx can mean panpipes, a bird's voice box, or an abnormal cavity in the spine, depending on the field.

When to use it

Which meaning applies depends heavily on context, whether musical, medical, or ornithological.

Memory tip

Syrinx and syringe come from the same root, which helps explain why both involve a tube-like shape.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

syringe →

Common pairings

play the syrinx syrinx in the spinal cord bird's syrinx form a syrinx

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “syrinx” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The musician played a haunting tune on the _____.

Etymology

The word is a learned borrowing from Latin sȳrinx, meaning a reed or reed pipe, which itself came from the Ancient Greek word for panpipes. It is a doublet of syringe, meaning the two words share the same distant root.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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lower larynx

Frequently asked questions

What is a syrinx in music?

It is a wind instrument made of pipes bound together and played by blowing across the top, commonly known as panpipes.

What is a syrinx in medicine?

It is an abnormal fluid-filled cavity that can develop in the spinal cord or brain stem.

What is a syrinx in birds?

It is the vocal organ located where a bird's windpipe branches into the bronchi, and it is what allows birds to sing.

What is the meaning of syrinx?

"syrinx" (noun) means a set of pipes of different lengths bound together and played by blowing across the top, also known as panpipes.