lacuna

[ luh-kyoo-nuh ]

noun

, plural la·cu·nae [l, uh, -, kyoo, -nee], la·cu·nas.

1. a gap or missing part, as in a manuscript, series, or logical argument; hiatus.
2. Anatomy. one of the numerous minute cavities in the substance of bone, supposed to contain nucleate cells.
3. Botany. an air space in the cellular tissue of plants.

lacuna

/ ˌlækjʊˈnɒsɪtɪ; ləˈkjuːnə /

noun

1. a gap or space, esp in a book or manuscript
2. biology a cavity or depression, such as any of the spaces in the matrix of bone
3. another name for coffer

Derived Forms

• lacunosity, noun
• laˈcunose, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lacuna¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin lacūna “ditch, pit, hole, gap, deficiency,” akin to lacus “basin, tub, vat, lake”; lake ¹. lagoon

Word History and Origins

Origin of lacuna¹

C17: from Latin lacūna pool, cavity, from lacus lake

Example Sentences

This lacuna brings to mind the last words in my 2011 Death By China film uttered by former Congressman Dana Rohrabacher: “China has been treating us like fools. And that’s because we have been fools.”

From Washington Times

And it includes the cavities - called lacuna - that fill with the mother's blood to transfer nutrients to the baby.

From BBC

“Islamic material has been something of a lacuna for them.”

From New York Times

A single palm-size vertebra, its central lacuna heart-shaped, had us wondering about its origin story.

From New York Times

Of course, we all have these lacunas in our reading histories.

From New York Times