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ampulla

[ am-puhl-uh, -poo l-uh ]
/ æmˈpʌl ə, -ˈpʊl ə /
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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.
  1. a vessel for the wine and water used at the altar.
  2. 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.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. amplitude of accommodation,
  2. amply,
  3. ampoule,
  4. ampul,
  5. ampule,
  6. ampulla of lorenzini,
  7. ampulla of uterine tube,
  8. ampulla of vas deferens,
  9. ampullaceous,
  10. ampullar

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

Examples from the Web for ampulla

British Dictionary definitions for ampulla

ampulla

/ (æmˈpʊlə) /

noun plural -pullae (-ˈpʊliː)

anatomy the dilated end part of certain ducts or canals, such as the end of a uterine tube
Christianity
  1. a vessel for containing the wine and water used at the Eucharist
  2. 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

ampulla

n.

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for ampulla

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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.