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narine

nostril

noun nah-REEN Rare

Origin: Latin naris

Usage Note

Narine is the standard anatomical term for a nostril. It is almost always used in the plural (les narines) when referring to both nostrils together. The related word nez means 'nose'. In perfumery, a professional expert is sometimes poetically called un nez ('a nose').

Examples

"Ses narines frémissaient d'excitation."

Natural Translation

Her nostrils were quivering with excitement.

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