ostiole

American

[os-tee-ohl] / ˈɒs tiˌoʊl /

noun

Biology. a small opening or pore, especially in the fruiting body of a fungus.

ostiole British

/ ˈɒstɪələ, ˈɒstɪˌəʊl /

noun

the pore in the reproductive bodies of certain algae and fungi through which spores pass
any small pore

"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

Derived Forms

ostiolar

adjective

Etymology

Origin of ostiole

1825–35; < Latin ōstiolum little door, equivalent to ōsti ( um ) door ( see ostium) + -olum -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.

Ostiolar canal: a marginal furrow leading from the ostiole.

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

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