stoma

[ stoh-muh ]

noun

, plural sto·ma·ta [stoh, -m, uh, -t, uh, stom, -, uh, -, stoh-, mah, -t, uh], sto·mas.

1. Also Botany. any of various small apertures, especially one of the minute orifices or slits in the epidermis of leaves, stems, etc., through which gases are exchanged.
2. Zoology. a mouth or ingestive opening, especially when in the form of a small or simple aperture.
3. Medicine/Medical. an artificial opening between two hollow organs or between one hollow organ and the outside of the body, constructed to permit the passage of body fluids or waste products.

stoma

/ ˈstəʊmə /

noun

1. botany an epidermal pore, present in large numbers in plant leaves, that controls the passage of gases into and out of a plant
2. zoology anatomy a mouth or mouthlike part
3. See ileostomy, colostomy
   surgery an artificial opening made in a tubular organ, esp the colon or ileum See colostomy ileostomy

stoma

/ stō′mə /

, Plural stomata stō′mə-tə

1. Botany.
   One of the tiny openings in the epidermis of a plant, through which gases and water vapor pass. Stomata permit the absorption of carbon dioxide necessary for photosynthesis from the air, as well as the removal of excess oxygen. Stomata occur on all living plant parts that have contact with the air; they are especially abundant on leaves. A single leaf may have many thousands of stomata. Each stoma is generally between 10 to 30 microns in length and is surrounded by a pair of crescent-shaped cells, called guard cells. The guard cells can change shape and close the stoma in order to prevent the loss of water vapor.
2. Botany.
   See Note at transpiration
3. Zoology.
   A mouthlike opening, such as the oral cavity of a nematode.
4. Medicine.
   A temporary or permanent opening in a body surface, especially the abdomen or throat, that is created by a surgical procedure, such as a colostomy or tracheostomy.

Other Words From

• stomal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoma¹

First recorded in 1675–85; from New Latin, from Greek stóma “mouth”

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoma¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek: mouth

Example Sentences

The vast majority of patients choose the urostomy, in which surgeons create a stoma—a beefy red spout protruding from the belly—so that urine can flow from the kidneys, through an intestinal conduit, and out the body.

From Time

The other type of leaves had more surface holes, known as stomata.

From Science News For Students

When open, stomata take in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen.

From Science News For Students

To conserve water, the plant will often close its pores, known as the stomata, to prevent evaporation.

From Eater

One feature they looked at was the stomata, tiny openings in plant leaves that control how much carbon dioxide, water vapor, and oxygen enter and exit.

From Popular-Science

Poson oun estin, ho alloioi, kai d theasmetha; pleon men kata to stoma, meion d' kata to Pg 252Greek text hpar te kai tas phlebas.

From Project Gutenberg

By change in shape of these cells the opening of the stoma is made larger or smaller.

From Project Gutenberg

Stomate (Latin Stoma, plural Stomata), the breathing-pores of leaves, 144.

From Project Gutenberg