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Webster 1913 Edition


Operculum

O-per′cu-lum

,
Noun.
;
pl. L.
Opercula
(#)
, E.
Operculums
(#)
.
[L., a cover or lid, fr.
operire
to cover.]
1.
(Bot.)
(a)
The lid of a pitcherform leaf.
(b)
The lid of the urnlike capsule of mosses.
2.
(Anat.)
(a)
Any lidlike or operculiform process or part;
as, the
opercula
of a dental follicle
.
(b)
The fold of integument, usually supported by bony plates, which protects the gills of most fishes and some amphibians; the gill cover; the gill lid.
(c)
The principal opercular bone in the upper and posterior part of the gill cover.
3.
(Zool.)
(a)
The lid closing the aperture of various species of shells, as the common whelk. See Illust. of
Gastropoda
.
(b)
Any lid-shaped structure closing the aperture of a tube or shell.

Definition 2024


operculum

operculum

English

Noun

operculum (plural opercula)

  1. A covering flap or lidlike structure in plants and animals, such as a gill cover

Translations


Latin

Etymology

From operiō (I close) + -culum.

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /oˈper.ku.lum/, [ɔˈpɛr.kʊ.ɫũ]

Noun

operculum n (genitive operculī); second declension

  1. cover, covering

Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative operculum opercula
genitive operculī operculōrum
dative operculō operculīs
accusative operculum opercula
ablative operculō operculīs
vocative operculum opercula

References