ampulla

[ am-puhl-uh, -pool-uh ]
See synonyms for ampulla on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural am·pul·lae [am-puhl-ee, -pool-ee]. /æmˈpʌl i, -ˈpʊl i/.
  1. Anatomy. a dilated portion of a canal or duct, especially of the semicircular canals of the ear.

  2. Zoology, Botany. any flask-shaped structure.

  1. Ecclesiastical.

    • a vessel for the wine and water used at the altar.

    • a vessel for holding consecrated oil.

  2. a two-handled bottle having a somewhat globular shape, made of glass or earthenware, used by the ancient Romans for holding oil, wine, or perfumes.

  3. Ichthyology. ampulla of Lorenzini.

Origin of ampulla

1
<New Latin, Latin, equivalent to amphor(a) amphora + -la diminutive suffix, with normal vowel reduction and Greek ph rendered as p

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How to use ampulla in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ampulla

ampulla

/ (æmˈpʊlə) /


nounplural -pullae (-ˈpʊliː)
  1. anatomy the dilated end part of certain ducts or canals, such as the end of a uterine tube

  2. Christianity

    • a vessel for containing the wine and water used at the Eucharist

    • a small flask for containing consecrated oil

  1. a Roman two-handled bottle for oil, wine, or perfume

Origin of ampulla

1
C16: from Latin, diminutive of amphora

Derived forms of ampulla

  • ampullaceous (ˌæmpʊˈleɪʃəs) or ampullaceal, adjective
  • ampullar (æmˈpʊlə) or ampullary (æmˈpʊlərɪ), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012