ampulla
[am-puhl-uh, -poo l-uh]
- 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.
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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. 2018
Related Words
beaker, jug, vial, urn, chalice, decanter, canteen, carafe, crock, glass, retort, jar, ewer, noggin, bag, bottle, fiasco, flagon, crystal, demijohnExamples from the Web for ampulla
Historical Examples
At the base of each tube-foot there is a globular reservoir, or ampulla.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tideAugusta Foote Arnold
Ampullaceous, swelling out like a bottle or bladder (ampulla).
The Elements of BotanyAsa 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 MetallicaGeorgius Agricola
If an ampulla be inflated and then pressed, the corresponding tube-foot will be seen to extend.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tideAugusta Foote Arnold
We remember that at the time of the Revolution the ampulla containing the sacred oil was shivered into fragments.
ampulla
- 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
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin, diminutive of amphora
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for ampulla
n.
late 14c., type of globular ancient Roman vessel; see ampoule.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
ampulla
(ăm-pul′ə, -pŭl′ə)- A dilated portion of a canal or duct, as in the semicircular canal of the ear.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.