Adenoids are soft lumps of flesh at the back and top of a person's throat that sometimes become swollen and have to be removed.
adenoids in British English
(ˈædɪˌnɔɪdz)
plural noun
a mass of lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat behind the uvula: when enlarged it often restricts nasal breathing, esp in young children
Technical name: pharyngeal tonsil
adenoids in American English
(ˈædənˌɔɪdz; ˈædˌnɔɪdz)
plural noun
growths of lymphoid tissue in the upper part of the throat, behind the nose: they can swell up, esp. during childhood, obstruct breathing and speaking, and cause chronic ear infections