Standard Lemma guide

philtrum

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈfɪl.tɹəm/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The shallow vertical groove running from the nasal septum to the center of the upper lip.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: infranasal depression

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The junction between the two halves of an animal's upper lip or nose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology, zootomy

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from the Latin philtrum (“a love potion”), from Ancient Greek φῐ́λτρον (phĭ́ltron, “a love charm; the dimple in the upper lip”). Doublet of philter.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: نَثْرَة (naṯra) — shallow vertical groove
  • Catalan: filtre — shallow vertical groove
  • Chinese Mandarin: 人中 (rénzhōng) — shallow vertical groove
  • Czech: laskavník — shallow vertical groove
  • Czech: filtrum — shallow vertical groove
  • Danish: philtrum — shallow vertical groove
  • Finnish: filtrum — shallow vertical groove
  • French: sillon naso-labial — shallow vertical groove
  • French: philtrum — shallow vertical groove
  • German: Oberlippenrinne — shallow vertical groove
  • German: Philtrum — shallow vertical groove
  • Greek: φίλτρο (fíltro) — shallow vertical groove
  • Ancient Greek: φίλτρον (phíltron) — shallow vertical groove
  • Icelandic: vinulág — shallow vertical groove
  • Icelandic: miðsnesisgróf — shallow vertical groove
  • Icelandic: efrivararrenna — shallow vertical groove
  • Irish: filtream — shallow vertical groove
  • Italian: filtro — shallow vertical groove
  • Japanese: 人中穴 (jinchūketsu) — shallow vertical groove
  • Japanese: 人中 (jinchū) — shallow vertical groove
  • Korean: 인중 (injung) — shallow vertical groove
  • Mongolian: хүн (xün) — shallow vertical groove
  • Norwegian: philtrum — shallow vertical groove
  • Persian: نثرت (nasarat) — shallow vertical groove
  • Persian: بوسهگاه (buse-gâh) — shallow vertical groove
  • Persian: جویک لب (juyak-e lab) — shallow vertical groove
  • Polish: rynienka podnosowa — shallow vertical groove
  • Portuguese: sulco nasolabial — shallow vertical groove
  • Portuguese: filtro labial — shallow vertical groove
  • Russian: губно́й желобо́к (gubnój želobók) — shallow vertical groove
  • Russian: подносово́й желобо́к (podnosovój želobók) — shallow vertical groove
  • Russian: фильтр (filʹtr) — shallow vertical groove
  • Spanish: surco nasolabial — shallow vertical groove
  • Vietnamese: nhân trung — shallow vertical groove