pleura

/ˈplʊə.ɹə/

//ˈplʊə.ɹə// noun

"pleura" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pleura” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Each of a pair of smooth serous membranes which line the thorax and envelop the lungs in humans and other mammals.

Corpus desk

Index EN-pleura · pleura · English

pleura · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "P" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for pleura
PropertyValue
Headwordpleura
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈplʊə.ɹə/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “pleura” in English

pleurasits beyond the 100,000 most-frequent English words, in the long tail of technical, archaic, or otherwise rare vocabulary where spelling doubt tends to strike hardest.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

pleura is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈplʊə.ɹə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for pleura in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin pleura. The correct English form is pleura, spelled P-L-E-U-R-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Each of a pair of smooth serous membranes which line the thorax and envelop the lungs in humans and other mammals.
  2. 2
    A lateral part in an animal body or structure.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how pleura appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The lungs […] may be said to be inclosed in separate bags, or to have distinct pleuras.

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin pleura.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "pleura"?
"pleura" is spelled P-L-E-U-R-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈplʊə.ɹə/.
What does "pleura" mean?
As a noun, "pleura" means: Each of a pair of smooth serous membranes which line the thorax and envelop the lungs in humans and other mammals.
How do you pronounce "pleura"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pleura" is /ˈplʊə.ɹə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "pleura"?
From Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin pleura. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list