macula

[ mak-yuh-luh ]
See synonyms for macula on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural mac·u·lae [mak-yuh-lee]. /ˈmæk yəˌli/.
  1. a spot or blotch, especially on one's skin; macule.

  2. Ophthalmology.

    • an opaque spot on the cornea.

    • Also called macula lutea, yellow spot. an irregularly oval, yellow-pigmented area on the central retina, containing color-sensitive rods and the central point of sharpest vision.

Origin of macula

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin: spot, blemish

Other words from macula

  • mac·u·lar, adjective
  • mul·ti·mac·u·lar, adjective

Words Nearby macula

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How to use macula in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for macula

macula

macule (ˈmækjuːl)

/ (ˈmækjʊlə) /


nounplural -ulae (-jʊˌliː) or -ules anatomy
  1. a small spot or area of distinct colour, esp the macula lutea

  2. any small discoloured spot or blemish on the skin, such as a freckle

Origin of macula

1
C14: from Latin

Derived forms of macula

  • macular, adjective

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

Scientific definitions for macula

macula

[ măkyə-lə ]


Plural maculae (măkyə-lē′) maculas
  1. A minute yellowish area located near the center of the retina of the eye, at which visual perception is most acute.

  2. A discolored spot on the skin that is not elevated above the surface.

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