mac·u·la (m k y -l)n. pl. mac·u·lae (-l   ) or mac·u·las 1. also mac·ule (-y  l) A discolored spot or area on the skin that is not elevated above the surface and is characteristic of certain conditions, such as smallpox, purpura, or roseola.2. a. An opaque spot on the cornea. b. The macula lutea. [Middle English, from Latin.] mac u·lar adj. |
macula [ˈmækjʊlə], macule [ˈmækjuːl]
n pl -ulae [-jʊˌliː], -ules Anatomy
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) a small spot or area of distinct colour, esp the macula lutea
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) any small discoloured spot or blemish on the skin, such as a freckle
[from Latin]
macular adj
| macula (mky-l) Plural maculae (m ky-l) or maculas 1. A minute yellowish area located near the center of the retina of the eye, at which visual perception is most acute. 2. A discolored spot on the skin that is not elevated above the surface. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  macula - a cooler darker spot appearing periodically on the sun's photosphere; associated with a strong magnetic field |
| 2. |  macula - a small yellowish central area of the retina that is rich in cones and that mediates clear detailed visionregion, area - a part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve; "in the abdominal region" retina - the innermost light-sensitive membrane covering the back wall of the eyeball; it is continuous with the optic nerve | |
| 3. | macula - a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated; caused by various diseases maculation, patch, speckle, dapple, fleck, spot - a small contrasting part of something; "a bald spot"; "a leopard's spots"; "a patch of clouds"; "patches of thin ice"; "a fleck of red" cutis, skin, tegument - a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch; "your skin is the largest organ of your body" liver spot - a type of skin disease that causes brown spots on the skin plague spot - a spot on the skin characteristic of the plague |
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