Operculum
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /əʊˈpɜː.kjʊ.ləm/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Operculum is a noun meaning (zoology) A covering flap in animals, such as a gill cover.
Meaning
(zoology) A covering flap in animals, such as a gill cover.
More Meanings
- (botany) The lidlike portion of a moss sporangium or of a fruit that detaches to allow the dispersal of spores or seeds.
- (dentistry) A gum flap covering (part of) a partially erupted tooth, usually a wisdom tooth.
- A structure which serves as a cover or lid.
- (anatomy) One of several flaps of cerebral cortex covering the insula.
Example Sentences
I lifted the circular operculum from its place and laid it carefully on the bale.
Hyoliths […] have a small, conical calcium carbonate shell, with a lid called an operculum.
Word Forms
- opercula
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include paucispiral, horny, calcareous, opercule, opercle, suboperculum.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.