rostellum
Americannoun
plural
rostella-
Biology. any small, beaklike process.
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Botany. a beaklike modification of the stigma in many orchids.
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Zoology.
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a projecting part of the scolex in certain tapeworms.
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a part of the mouth in many insects, designed for sucking.
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noun
Other Word Forms
- rostellate adjective
Etymology
Origin of rostellum
1750–60; < New Latin; Latin: little beak, snout, diminutive of rōstrum snout ( rostrum ); for formation, castellum
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rostellum: a small beak; applied to the mouth parts of sucking lice: also used in Hemiptera, as = rostrum; q.v.
From Project Gutenberg
Anthera fere immersa, Rostellum integrum ut in omnibus glandula orbotis Pollinia 8.
From Project Gutenberg
With Spiranthes autumnalis, the pollen-masses cannot be applied to the stigma until the labellum and rostellum have moved apart, and this movement is very slow.
From Project Gutenberg
You can hardly imagine what an interesting morning's work you have given me, as the rostellum exhibited a quite new modification of structure.
From Project Gutenberg
I have examined Listera ovata, cordata, and Neottia nidus avis: the pollen is uniform; I suspect you must have seen some observation founded on a mistake from the penetration and hardening of sticky fluid from the rostellum, which does penetrate the pollen a little.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
