fos·sa (f s  )n. pl. fos·sae (f s  ) Anatomy A small cavity or depression, as in a bone. [Latin, ditch, from feminine past participle of fodere, to dig.] fos sate (fs t) adj. |
fossa1
n pl -sae [-siː]
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) an anatomical depression, trench, or hollow area
[from Latin: ditch, from fossus dug up, from fodere to dig up]
fossa2
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) a large primitive catlike viverrine mammal, Cryptoprocta ferox, inhabiting the forests of Madagascar: order Carnivora (carnivores). It has thick reddish-brown fur and preys on lemurs, poultry, etc.
[from Malagasy]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  fossa - a concavity in a surface (especially an anatomical depression)glenoid cavity, glenoid fossa - the concavity in the head of the scapula that receives the head of the humerus to form the shoulder joint glenoid fossa, mandibular fossa - a deep concavity in the temporal bone at the root of the zygomatic arch that receives the condyle of the mandible epigastric fossa, pit of the stomach - a slight depression in the midline just below the sternum (where a blow can affect the solar plexus) |
| 2. | Fossa - monotypic genus of Madagascar civets closely related to palm civets mammal genus - a genus of mammals fanaloka, Fossa fossa - civet of Madagascar | |
| 3. |  fossa - largest carnivore of Madagascar; intermediate in some respects between cats and civetsviverrine, viverrine mammal - small cat-like predatory mammals of warmer parts of the Old World |
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