Synonyms

haustellum

American

[haw-stel-uhm] / hɔˈstɛl əm /

noun

plural

haustella

(in certain crustaceans and insects) an organ or part of the proboscis adapted for sucking blood or plant juices.

haustellum British

/ hɔːˈstɛləm /

noun

the tip of the proboscis of a housefly or similar insect, specialized for sucking food

"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

Other Word Forms

haustellate adjective

Etymology

Origin of haustellum

1810–20; < New Latin, diminutive of Latin haustrum scoop on a water wheel, equivalent to haus-, variant stem of haurīre to scoop up, draw + -trum suffix of instrument; for formation, see castellum

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.

Antlia: the spiral tongue or haustellum of Lepidoptera.

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

The insect derives an advantage from its increased haustellum, but what advantage does the plant derive from its retiring nectary?

From Story of Creation as Told By Theology and By Science by Ackland, T. S. (Thomas Suter)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023