patella

[puh-tel-uh]

noun

plural

patellas, patellae 

1. Anatomy.,  the flat, movable bone at the front of the knee; kneecap.

2. Biology.,  a panlike or cuplike formation.

3. Zoology.,  any limpet of the family Patellidae.

4. Archaeology.,  a small pan or shallow vessel.

patella

/ pəˈtɛlə /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: kneecap. anatomy a small flat triangular bone in front of and protecting the knee joint

2. biology a cuplike structure, such as the spore-producing body of certain ascomycetous fungi

3. archaeol a small pan

patella

plural

patellae 

1. The small, flat, movable bone at the front of the knee in most mammals.

2. Also called kneecap

3. See more at skeleton

Other Word Forms

• patellar adjective
• postpatellar adjective
• subpatellar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of patella¹

1665–75; < Latin, diminutive of patina, patena pan, literally, something wide open. See paten, -elle

Word History and Origins

Origin of patella¹

C17: from Latin, from patina shallow pan

Example Sentences

“I’ve been dealing with patella tendinitis the entire season but over the weeks the pain has decreased,” Webster said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There was nothing unusual in their collision, but a coincidence of torsion and tension ruptured Roigard’s patella tendon.

Read more on BBC

Three months before that World Cup, one the U.S. exited in the round of 16 for the first time, Swanson tore the patella tendon in her left knee.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Scoles, six months removed from two knee surgeries to correct a patella tendon that was peeling off her bone, was forced to withdraw from competition.

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Seidel revealed Thursday on Instagram that she hurt her knee about a month ago and an MRI showed she had a fractured patella and partially torn patellar tendon.

Read more on Seattle Times