papilla
noun
any small, nipplelike process or projection.
papillae
-
pluralof papilla.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Red whirls on this rabbit’s tongue are filiform papillae, which roughen the tongue and help move food around the mouth.
From New York Times ● May 21, 2024
Of these numerous projections, the mushroom-shaped fungiform papillae hold our taste buds whereas the crown-shaped filiform papillae give the tongue its texture and sense of touch.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 14, 2023
To match their backgrounds, cuttlefish use an array of pigment-filled skin cells called chromatophores and raised structures called papillae.
From New York Times ● Jun. 28, 2023
The saliva coats the papillae, which can act like tiny sticky fingers to help grip prey, David Hu, a biomechanics researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and his colleagues reported in 2017.
From Science Magazine ● May 24, 2023
“The papillae house the taste buds. Let’s count them!”
From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead
