ac·e·tab·u·lum ( s  -tb y -lm)n. pl. ac·e·tab·u·la (-l ) 1. Anatomy The cup-shaped cavity at the base of the hipbone into which the ball-shaped head of the femur fits. 2. Zoology The cavity in the body of an insect into which the leg fits. 3. Zoology A cup-shaped structure, such as the sucker of a tapeworm or leech. [Latin ac  t bulum, vinegar cup, from actum, vinegar; see acetum.]ac e·tabu·lar (-lr) adj. |   hip ball-and-socket joint |
acetabulum [ˌæsɪˈtæbjʊləm]
n pl -la [-lə]
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) the deep cuplike cavity on the side of the hipbone that receives the head of the thighbone
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) a round muscular sucker in flatworms, leeches, and cephalopod molluscs
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the aperture in the thorax of an insect that holds the leg
[Latin: vinegar cup, hence a cuplike cavity, from acētum vinegar + -abulum, suffix denoting a container]
acetabulum - The socket of the hip bone, into which the head of the femur fits.
See also related terms for socket.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  acetabulum - the cup-shaped hollow in the hipbone into which the head of the femur fits to form a ball-and-socket jointhipbone, innominate bone - large flaring bone forming one half of the pelvis; made up of the ilium and ischium and pubis socket - a bony hollow into which a structure fits |
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