peristome
Americannoun
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Botany. the one or two circles of small, pointed, toothlike appendages around the orifice of a capsule or urn of mosses, appearing when the lid is removed.
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Zoology. any of various structures or sets of parts that surround or form the walls of a mouth or mouthlike opening.
noun
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a fringe of pointed teeth surrounding the opening of a moss capsule
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any of various parts surrounding the mouth of invertebrates, such as echinoderms and earthworms, and of protozoans
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A fringe of toothlike appendages surrounding the mouth of the spore capsule of some mosses. The teeth unfold under damp conditions and curl up under dry conditions to disperse spores gradually.
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The area or parts around the mouth in certain invertebrates, such as the echinoderms.
Other Word Forms
- peristomal adjective
- peristomatic adjective
- peristomial adjective
Etymology
Origin of peristome
From the New Latin word peristoma, dating back to 1790–1800. See peri-, -stome
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.
A structure called a peristome increases the spread of spores after the tip of the capsule falls off at dispersal.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
Body cylindrical; size medium; peristome long and turns sharply to the left at the extremity Genus Metopus 2.
From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)
During each forward movement the column is arched downwards so that the peristome is in contact with the surface along which the animal is moving.
From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson
The peristome is a small groove leading from the anterior end to the mouth about midway down the ventral side of the body.
From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)
It can be entirely withdrawn and folded together in the peristome.
From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)
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.
