ampulla

[am-puhl-uh, -poo l-uh]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ampulla ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural am·pul·lae [am-puhl-ee, -poo l-ee] /æmˈpʌl i, -ˈpʊl i/.

Anatomy. a dilated portion of a canal or duct, especially of the semicircular canals of the ear.

Zoology, Botany. any flask-shaped structure.

Ecclesiastical.

a vessel for the wine and water used at the altar.
a vessel for holding consecrated oil.

a two-handled bottle having a somewhat globular shape, made of glass or earthenware, used by the ancient Romans for holding oil, wine, or perfumes.

Ichthyology. ampulla of Lorenzini.

Origin of ampulla

< New Latin, Latin, equivalent to amphor(a) amphora + -la diminutive suffix, with normal vowel reduction and Greek ph rendered as p

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for ampulla

beaker, jug, vial, urn, chalice, decanter, canteen, carafe, crock, glass, retort, jar, ewer, noggin, bag, bottle, fiasco, flagon, crystal, demijohn

Examples from the Web for ampulla

Historical Examples of ampulla

At the base of each tube-foot there is a globular reservoir, or ampulla.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide
Augusta Foote Arnold
Ampullaceous, swelling out like a bottle or bladder (ampulla).
The Elements of Botany
Asa Gray
F—Iron tripod, in which the ampulla is usually placed when there are not many particles of gold to be parted from the silver.
De Re Metallica
Georgius Agricola
If an ampulla be inflated and then pressed, the corresponding tube-foot will be seen to extend.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide
Augusta Foote Arnold
We remember that at the time of the Revolution the ampulla containing the sacred oil was shivered into fragments.
Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature, Vol. III (of 6) The Reaction in France
Georg Brandes

British Dictionary definitions for ampulla

ampulla

noun plural -pullae (-ˈpʊliː)

anatomy the dilated end part of certain ducts or canals, such as the end of a uterine tube

Christianity

a vessel for containing the wine and water used at the Eucharist
a small flask for containing consecrated oil

a Roman two-handled bottle for oil, wine, or perfume

Derived Formsampullaceous (ˌæmpʊˈleɪʃəs) or ampullaceal, adjectiveampullar (æmˈpʊlə) or ampullary (æmˈpʊlərɪ), adjective

Word Origin for ampulla

C16: from Latin, diminutive of amphora

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ampulla

late 14c., type of globular ancient Roman vessel; see ampoule.

ampulla in Medicine

ampulla

[ăm-pul′ə, -pŭl′ə]

n. pl. am•pul•lae (-pul′ē, -pŭl′ē)

A dilated portion of a canal or duct, as in the semicircular canal of the ear.

Related formsam•pul′lar adj.