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ligula

American  
[lig-yuh-luh] / ˈlɪg yə lə /

noun

plural

ligulae, ligulas
  1. Botany, Zoology. a tonguelike or strap-shaped part or organ.

  2. Botany. ligule.


ligula British  
/ ˈlɪɡjʊlə /

noun

  1. entomol the terminal part of the labium of an insect consisting of paired lobes

  2. a variant spelling of ligule

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • ligular adjective
  • liguloid adjective

Etymology

Origin of ligula

1750–60; < New Latin, special use of Latin li ( n ) gula spoon, shoe-strap, equivalent to lig-, variant stem of lingere to lick + -ula -ule

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.

Aliquam volutpat, magna ut commodo varius, purus ligula fringilla enim, quis semper orci risus quis augue.

From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015

Aliquam id risus non ligula rhoncus semper sit amet non erat.

From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015

Auricle -cula: an appendage resembling a little ear; in Odonata the tumescent area at the sides of the second abdominal segment: in Andrenidae, a short membranous process placed laterally on the ligula.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Paraglossa, par-a-glos′a, n. one of the two appendages of the ligula in insects.—adjs.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Epilobe: of mentum in Carabidae, really corresponds to a partially divided ligula: a lateral appendage of a bilobed mentum.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.