caruncle (redirected from maternal caruncle)

ca·run·cle  (k-rngkl, krng-)

n.

1. Biology A fleshy naked outgrowth, such as a fowl's wattles.

2. Botany An outgrowth or appendage at or near the hilum of certain seeds, as of the castor-oil plant.

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[Obsolete French caruncule, from Latin caruncula, diminutive of car, flesh; see sker-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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ca·runcu·lar (-ky-lr) adj.

ca·runcu·late (-lt, -lt), ca·runcu·lated (-ltd) adj.

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caruncle [ˈkærəŋk^əl kəˈrʌŋ-]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) a fleshy outgrowth on the heads of certain birds, such as a cock's comb

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) an outgrowth near the hilum on the seeds of some plants

3. (Medicine / Pathology) any small fleshy mass in or on the body, either natural or abnormal

[from obsolete French caruncule, from Latin caruncula a small piece of flesh, from carō flesh]

caruncular  [kəˈrʌŋkjʊlə], carunculous adj

carunculate  [kəˈrʌŋkjʊlɪt -ˌleɪt], carunculated adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

caruncle - an outgrowth on a plant or animal such as a fowl's wattle or a protuberance near the hilum of certain seeds caruncula appendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process" lappet, wattle - a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards