third tonsil n : a collection of lymphatic tissue in the throat behind the uvula (on the posterior wall and roof of the nasopharynx); "hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsils is called adenoids"; "enlarged adenoids may restrict the breathing of children" [syn: {pharyngeal tonsil}, {adenoid}, {Luschka's tonsil}, {tonsilla pharyngealis}, {tonsilla adenoidea}]