columella

col·u·mel·la

 (kŏl′yə-mĕl′ə, kŏl′ə-)

n. pl. col·u·mel·lae (-mĕl′ē)

Any small columnlike structure in various plants and animals, often forming the central axis of development for the organism or an anatomical structure.

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[Latin, diminutive of columna, column; see column.]

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col′u·mel′lar (-mĕl′ər) adj.

col′u·mel′late′ (-mĕl′āt′) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

columella

(ˌkɒljʊˈmɛlə)

n, pl -lae (-liː)

1. (Biology) biology

a. the central part of the spore-producing body of some fungi and mosses

b. any similar columnar structure

2. (Zoology) Also called: columella auris a small rodlike bone in the middle ear of frogs, reptiles, and birds that transmits sound to the inner ear: homologous to the mammalian stapes

[C16: from Latin: diminutive of columna column]

ˌcoluˈmellar adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

col•u•mel•la

(ˌkɒl yəˈmɛl ə)

n., pl. -mel•lae (-ˈmɛl i)

1. any of various small, columnlike structures of animals or plants; rod or axis.

2. the middle ear bone of amphibians, reptiles, and birds.

[1575–85; < Latin, diminutive of columna column; see -elle]

col`u•mel′lar, adj.

col`u•mel′late (-ɪt, -eɪt) adj.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

columella - a small column (or structure resembling a column) that is a part of a plant or animal pillar, tower, column - anything that approximates the shape of a column or tower; "the test tube held a column of white powder"; "a tower of dust rose above the horizon"; "a thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsite"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

columela

columelle