speculum
a mirror or reflector, especially one of polished metal, as on a reflecting telescope.
Surgery. an instrument for rendering a part accessible to observation, as by enlarging an orifice.
Ornithology. a lustrous or specially colored area on the wings of certain birds.
Origin of speculum
1Words Nearby speculum
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use speculum in a sentence
Videmus nunc per speculum in nigmate, tunc autem facie ad faciem.
The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal | Blaise PascalThe speculum is gray; bill, bluish with a pale blue band across it about a half inch from the end.
Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast | Harry Thom PayneThe general color is buff, mottled with brown; wing-coverts and speculum, same as the male.
Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast | Harry Thom PayneThe lesser scaup, or little blue-bill (Aythya affinis) has a white speculum also, but the sheen of the head and neck is purple.
Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast | Harry Thom PayneThe Daily speculum rose to a million a day on the strength of its photographs of bridal-parties alone.
Gray youth | Oliver Onions
British Dictionary definitions for speculum
/ (ˈspɛkjʊləm) /
a mirror, esp one made of polished metal for use in a telescope, etc
med an instrument for dilating a bodily cavity or passage to permit examination of its interior
a patch of distinctive colour on the wing of a bird, esp in certain ducks
Origin of speculum
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse