Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com

modiolus

American  
[moh-dahy-uh-luhs, muh-] / moʊˈdaɪ ə ləs, mə- /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

modioli

  1. the central, conical axis of the cochlea of the ear.

modiolus British  
/ məʊˈdaɪəʊləs, mə- /

noun

  1. the central bony pillar of the cochlea

"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

  • modiolar adjective

Etymology

Origin of modiolus

1685–95; < New Latin, Latin: nave of a wheel bucket, drinking vessel, equivalent to modi ( us ) a dry measure (perhaps derivative of modus mode 1 ) + -olus -ole 1

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.

At the extremity of the modiolus, the two passages communicate with each other.

From Project Gutenberg

The modiolus is large near its base, where it corresponds with the first turn of the cochlea, and diminishes in diameter toward its extremity.

From Project Gutenberg

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.