patella

[ puh-tel-uh ]

noun

, plural pa·tel·las, pa·tel·lae [p, uh, -, tel, -ee].

1. Anatomy. the flat, movable bone at the front of the knee; kneecap.
2. Biology. a panlike or cuplike formation.
3. Zoology. any limpet of the family Patellidae.
4. Archaeology. a small pan or shallow vessel.

patella

/ pəˈtɛlə /

noun

1. anatomy a small flat triangular bone in front of and protecting the knee joint Nontechnical namekneecap
2. biology a cuplike structure, such as the spore-producing body of certain ascomycetous fungi
3. archaeol a small pan

patella

/ pə-tĕl′ə /

, Plural patellae pə-tĕl′ē

1. The small, flat, movable bone at the front of the knee in most mammals.
2. Also called kneecap
3. See more at skeleton

Derived Forms

• paˈtellar, adjective

Other Words From

• pa·tellar adjective
• postpa·tellar adjective
• subpa·tellar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of patella¹

1665–75; < Latin, diminutive of patina, patena pan, literally, something wide open. See paten, -elle

Word History and Origins

Origin of patella¹

C17: from Latin, from patina shallow pan

Example Sentences

There was nothing unusual in their collision, but a coincidence of torsion and tension ruptured Roigard’s patella tendon.

From BBC

Three months before that World Cup, one the U.S. exited in the round of 16 for the first time, Swanson tore the patella tendon in her left knee.

From Los Angeles Times

Scoles, six months removed from two knee surgeries to correct a patella tendon that was peeling off her bone, was forced to withdraw from competition.

From Los Angeles Times

Seidel revealed Thursday on Instagram that she hurt her knee about a month ago and an MRI showed she had a fractured patella and partially torn patellar tendon.

From Seattle Times

There is no known timetable on Oladipo’s return from a patella tendon tear suffered in last season’s playoffs with Miami.

From Seattle Times