ligula
Americannoun
plural
ligulae, ligulas-
Botany, Zoology. a tonguelike or strap-shaped part or organ.
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Botany. ligule.
noun
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entomol the terminal part of the labium of an insect consisting of paired lobes
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a variant spelling of ligule
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 id risus non ligula rhoncus semper sit amet non erat.
From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015
Aliquam volutpat, magna ut commodo varius, purus ligula fringilla enim, quis semper orci risus quis augue.
From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015
Bouton: a button; the terminal lappet-like process at the tip of the ligula in bees: = spoon.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.
Paraglossa: a paired, labial structure, lying at each side of the ligula; often connected with it; sometimes free and two-jointed: corresponds to the galea of maxilla.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.
Elytral ligula: a tongue-like process on the inner face of the side margin of elytra, to perfect the union with the ventral segments: e.g. in Dytiscidae.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.
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.
