patulous

[pach-uh-luhs]

adjective

1. open; gaping; expanded.

2. Botany.

   1. spreading, as a tree or its boughs.

   2. spreading slightly, as a calyx.

   3. bearing the flowers loose or dispersed, as a peduncle.

patulous

/ ˈpætjʊləs /

adjective

1. botany spreading widely or expanded

   patulous branches

2. rare,  gaping

Other Word Forms

• patulously adverb
• patulousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of patulous¹

First recorded in 1610–20, patulous is from the Latin word patulus standing wide-open. See patent, -ulous

Word History and Origins

Origin of patulous¹

C17: from Latin patulus open, from patēre to lie open

Example Sentences

Tailed; lower wings with obtuse patulous tails.

From Project Gutenberg

Tailed; lower wings with obtuse patulous tails.

From Project Gutenberg

Ponfick has shown that these are venous infarctions, the arterioles leading to them being patulous.

From Project Gutenberg

But when a large amount of highly-colored bile is being secreted, as in relapsing fever, it seems clear that the obstruction of a certain number of minute ducts would cause sufficient resorption of the bile to induce jaundice of varying degrees of intensity, while at the same time allowing a flow of bile through the patulous ducts.

From Project Gutenberg

In a marked hemorrhage the only way to save the mother is to empty the uterus, so that it may contract and thus close the patulous vessels.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accessible 
• clear 
• free 
• susceptible 
• wide