fenestra

American  

[fi-nes-truh] / fɪˈnɛs trə /

noun

plural

fenestrae

1. Anatomy, Zoology. a small opening or perforation, as in a bone, especially between the middle and inner ear.

2. Entomology. a transparent spot in an otherwise opaque surface, as in the wings of certain butterflies and moths.

3. Architecture. a windowlike opening.

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fenestra British  

/ fɪˈnɛstrə /

noun

1. biology a small opening in or between bones, esp one of the openings between the middle and inner ears

2. zoology a transparent marking or spot, as on the wings of moths

3. architect a window or window-like opening in the outside wall of a building

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Other Word Forms

• fenestral adjective
• unfenestral adjective

Etymology

Origin of fenestra

1820–30; < New Latin, special use of Latin fenestra window, hole (in a wall)

Example Sentences

In most meat-eating dinosaurs, a ridge of bone provides a roof over an opening in the skull in front of the eye sockets known as the antorbital fenestra.

From Scientific American • Dec. 15, 2020

The origin, furthermore, is along the dorsal edge of the ischiopubic fenestra and not from the membrane covering the fenestra.

From Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae A Taxonomic Study by Stallcup, William B.

The most posterior point of origin is immediately dorsal to the posterior end of the ilioischiatic fenestra.

From Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae A Taxonomic Study by Stallcup, William B.

The frontal and its septo-maxillary process surround the olfactory fenestra.

From A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America) by Wellman, John

The word fenestra is illustrated by a previous section of the Rule, No. lxxxii. p.

From The Care of Books by Clark, John Willis