aorta
aor.ta \a--'o.rt-*\ \-'o.r-.te--\ \-'o.rt-*l\ \-'o.rt-ik\ n or aortas or aor.tae [NL, fr. Gk aorte-, fr. aeirein to lift] pl : the great trunk artery that carries blood from the heart to be distribut ed by branch arteries through the body - aor.tal aj