papilla

pa·pil·la  (p-pl)

n. pl. pa·pil·lae (-pl)

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.

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[Latin, nipple, diminutive of papula, swelling, pimple.]

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papil·lary (pp-lr, p-pl-r) adj.

papil·late (pp-lt, p-plt) adj.

pap·il·lose (pp-ls, p-pls) adj.

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papilla [pəˈpɪlə]

n pl -lae [-liː]

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the small projection of tissue at the base of a hair, tooth, or feather

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) any other similar protuberance

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) any minute blunt hair or process occurring in plants

[from Latin: nipple; related to Latin papula pimple]

papillary , papillate, papillose adj

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papilla  (p-pl)

Plural papillae (p-pl)

A small part projecting from the surface of an organism. In mammals, the nipples of the mammary glands and the taste buds of the tongue are papillae. Papillae are often seen on the undersurfaces of mosses and ferns.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	papilla - (botany) a tiny outgrowth on the surface of a petal or leaf appendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process" phytology, botany - the branch of biology that studies plants
	2.	papilla - a small nipple-shaped protuberance concerned with taste, touch, or smell; "the papillae of the tongue" sense organ, sensory receptor, receptor - an organ having nerve endings (in the skin or viscera or eye or ear or nose or mouth) that respond to stimulation 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 feather appendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process"