ligula
Americannoun
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ligulae,
plural
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ligulas
plural
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Botany, Zoology. a tonguelike or strap-shaped part or organ.
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Botany. ligule.
noun
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entomol the terminal part of the labium of an insect consisting of paired lobes
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a variant spelling of ligule
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of ligula
1750–60; < New Latin, special use of Latin li ( n ) gula spoon, shoe-strap, equivalent to lig-, variant stem of lingere to lick + -ula -ule
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tubus: a term used to designate the corneous base of a ligula: the sheath of the tongue.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
Paraglossa: a paired, labial structure, lying at each side of the ligula; often connected with it; sometimes free and two-jointed: corresponds to the galea of maxilla.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
Bouton: a button; the terminal lappet-like process at the tip of the ligula in bees: = spoon.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
Tongue: an indefinite term, applied usually to the coiled mouth structure of Lepidoptera; the lapping organ of flies; the ligula of bees and wasps and, sometimes also to the hypopharynx of other insects.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
Epilobe: of mentum in Carabidae, really corresponds to a partially divided ligula: a lateral appendage of a bilobed mentum.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
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