alveolus

[al-vee-uh-luhs]

noun

plural

alveoli 

1. a little cavity, pit, or cell, as a cell of a honeycomb.

2. an air cell of the lungs, formed by the terminal dilation of tiny air passageways.

3. one of the terminal secretory units of a racemose gland.

4. the socket within the jawbone in which the root or roots of a tooth are set.

alveolus

/ ælˈvɪələs /

noun

1. any small pit, cavity, or saclike dilation, such as a honeycomb cell

2. any of the sockets in which the roots of the teeth are embedded

3. any of the tiny air sacs in the lungs at the end of the bronchioles, through which oxygen is taken into the blood

alveolus

plural

alveoli 

1. Any of the tiny air-filled sacs arranged in clusters in the lungs, in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

2. Also called air sac

Word History and Origins

Origin of alveolus¹

1700–10; < Latin, equivalent to alve ( us ) concave vessel + -olus -ole ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of alveolus¹

C18: from Latin: a little hollow, diminutive of alveus