lanugo

American  

[luh-noo-goh, -nyoo-] / ləˈnu goʊ, -ˈnyu- /

noun

Biology.

lanugos plural

1. a coat of delicate, downy hairs, especially that with which the human fetus or a newborn infant is covered.

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lanugo British  

/ ləˈnjuːɡəʊ, ləˈnjuːdʒɪnəs /

noun

1. a layer of fine hairs, esp the covering of the human fetus before birth

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lanugo Scientific  

/ lə-no̅o̅′gō /

1. A covering of fine, soft hair or hairlike structures, as on a leaf, insect, or human fetus.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lanuginousness
  noun
• lanuginous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• lanugos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lanugo

1670–80; < Latin lānūgō wooliness, down, derivative of lāna wool

Example Sentences

Lanugo is shed, and the nails grow to the tips of the fingers and toes.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Related Words

• lint