acetabulum

[ as-i-tab-yuh-luhm ]

noun

, plural ac·e·tab·u·la [as-i-, tab, -y, uh, -l, uh].

1. Anatomy. the socket in the hipbone that receives the head of the thighbone.
2. Zoology. any of the suction appendages of a leech, octopus, etc.

acetabulum

/ ˌæsɪˈtæbjʊləm /

noun

1. the deep cuplike cavity on the side of the hipbone that receives the head of the thighbone
2. a round muscular sucker in flatworms, leeches, and cephalopod molluscs
3. the aperture in the thorax of an insect that holds the leg

Other Words From

• ace·tabu·lar adjective
• postac·e·tabu·lar adjective
• preac·e·tabu·lar adjective
• subac·e·tabu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of acetabulum¹

1660–70; < Latin: hip socket, cup-shaped part of a plant (Pliny), literally, small cup, originally for vinegar, equivalent to acēt ( um ) vinegar + -ā- by analogy with verbal derivatives ( vocable ) + -bulum suffix denoting instrument or vessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of acetabulum¹

Latin: vinegar cup, hence a cuplike cavity, from acētum vinegar + -abulum, suffix denoting a container

Example Sentences

In Birds the acetabulum is perforated, as in many of the fossils named Dinosaurs, and in Monotremata.

From Project Gutenberg

Secondly, the ilium is elongated, and extends quite as much in front of the acetabulum as behind it.

From Project Gutenberg

The ilium is a somewhat cylindrical bone which at its ventral end meets the ischium, and forms part of the acetabulum.

From Project Gutenberg

Each half bears at its posterior end a deep cup, the acetabulum, with which the head of the femur articulates.

From Project Gutenberg

All three bones contribute largely to the formation of the acetabulum, with which the head of the femur articulates.

From Project Gutenberg