ligula

American  

[lig-yuh-luh] / ˈlɪg yə lə /

noun

plural

ligulae, ligulas

1. Botany, Zoology. a tonguelike or strap-shaped part or organ.

2. Botany. ligule.

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ligula British  

/ ˈlɪɡjʊlə /

noun

1. entomol the terminal part of the labium of an insect consisting of paired lobes

2. a variant spelling of ligule

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Other Word Forms

• ligular adjective
• liguloid adjective

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

Aliquam volutpat, magna ut commodo varius, purus ligula fringilla enim, quis semper orci risus quis augue.

From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015

Aliquam id risus non ligula rhoncus semper sit amet non erat.

From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015

Papilla: a minute, soft projection: specifically the modified ligula in silk spinning caterpillars.

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

The long sucking “tongue” of bees is probably a modification of the ligula.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 "Hero" to "Hindu Chronology" by Various

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 Smith, John. B.