acetabulum

American  

[as-i-tab-yuh-luhm] / ˌæs ɪˈtæb yə ləm /

noun

plural

acetabula

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.

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acetabulum British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• acetabular
  adjective
• postacetabular
  adjective
• preacetabular
  adjective
• subacetabular
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of acetabulum

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 ( cf. vocable) + -bulum suffix denoting instrument or vessel

Example Sentences

McCarthy’s voluminous research is everywhere on the page — and, yes, very impressive — but you may find yourself stopping to look up supercavitation, acetabulum or festination only to turn back having forgotten what’s happening.

From Washington Post • Nov. 15, 2021

The head of the femur becomes abnormally shaped and no longer fits seamlessly in the acetabulum, or socket, putting the hip at risk of future injury.

From Washington Post • May 15, 2017

The ligaments are tightened by extension at the hip, thus pulling the head of the femur tightly into the acetabulum when in the upright, standing position.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The lateral side of the hip bone has the cup-like acetabulum, which is part of the hip joint.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

In front of the acetabulum a thick process of the ilium descends to meet the pubis, and a similar process behind meets the ischium.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 "Bible" to "Bisectrix" by Various