pa·pil·la (p -p l )n. pl. pa·pil·lae (-p l ) 1. A small nipplelike projection, such as a protuberance on the skin, at the root of a hair or feather, or at the base of a developing tooth. 2. One of the small, round or cone-shaped protuberances on the top of the tongue that contain taste buds. 3. A pimple or pustule. 4. Botany A minute projection on the surface of a stigma, petal, or leaf.
[Latin, nipple, diminutive of papula, swelling, pimple.]
pap il·lar y (p p -l r , p -p l -r ) adj. pap il·late (p p -l t , p -p l t) adj. pap·il·lose (p p -l s , p -p l s ) adj. |
papilla [pap-pill-a, -lee] Noun
pl -lae Biol a small projection of tissue at the base of a hair, tooth, or feather [Latin: nipple]
papillary adj
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | papilla - (botany) a tiny outgrowth on the surface of a petal or leafappendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process" |
| 2. | papilla - a small nipple-shaped protuberance concerned with taste, touch, or smell; "the papillae of the tongue"appendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process" |
| 3. | papilla - a small projection of tissue at the base of a hair or tooth or featherappendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process" |