frenulum

American  

[fren-yuh-luhm] / ˈfrɛn yə ləm /

noun

plural

frenula

1. Anatomy, Zoology. a small frenum.

2. Entomology. a strong spine or group of bristles on the hindwing of many butterflies and moths, projecting beneath the forewing and serving to hold the two wings together in flight.

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frenulum British  

/ ˈfrɛnjʊləm /

noun

1. a strong bristle or group of bristles on the hind wing of some moths and other insects, by which the forewing and hind wing are united during flight

2. a small fraenum

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Other Word Forms

• frenular adjective

Etymology

Origin of frenulum

First recorded in 1890–95; New Latin, from frēn(um) frenum + -ulum, neuter of -ulus -ule

Compare meaning

How does frenulum compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• frenum vs. frenulum

Example Sentences

In infancy, a type of tongue-tie where the frenulum attaches all the way to the front of the tongue and severely restricts its movement has been treated for hundreds of years.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2021

Nonetheless, Zaghi advocates for a surgery that cuts through the frenulum and sometimes into the muscle.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2021

The labial frenulum is a midline fold of mucous membrane that attaches the inner surface of each lip to the gum.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

A fold of mucous membrane on the underside of the tongue, the lingual frenulum, tethers the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Jugatae: that series of Lepidoptera in which there is a jugum instead of a frenulum to unite the wings in flight.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.