acetabulum

ac·e·tab·u·lum  (s-tby-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 actbulum, vinegar cup, from actum, vinegar; see acetum.] ace·tabu·lar (-lr) adj.

acetabulum hip ball-and-socket joint

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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]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

acetabulum - the cup-shaped hollow in the hipbone into which the head of the femur fits to form a ball-and-socket joint cotyloid cavity hipbone, 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