coch ‧ le ‧ a /ˈkɒkliə $ ˈkɑː-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural cochleas or cochleae /-li-aɪ/) [countable] technical
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: '(shell of) a snail' , from Greek kochlias , from kochlos 'snail' ; because of its shape ]
a part of the inner ear