pinna

American  

[pin-uh] / ˈpɪn ə /

noun

plural

pinnae, pinnas

1. Botany. one of the primary divisions of a pinnate leaf.

2. Zoology.

   1. a feather, wing, or winglike part.

   2. a fin or flipper.

3. Anatomy. auricle.

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pinna British  

/ ˈpɪnə /

noun

1. any leaflet of a pinnate compound leaf

2. zoology a feather, wing, fin, or similarly shaped part

3. another name for auricle

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pinna Scientific  

/ pĭn′ə /

plural

pinnae

1. A leaflet or primary division of a pinnately compound leaf, especially of a fern frond.

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Other Word Forms

• pinnal adjective

Etymology

Origin of pinna

1660–70; < Latin: feather, wing, fin

Example Sentences

The researchers call transients Orcinus rectipinnus, noting that, in Latin, “recti means right or upright, and pinna means fin, feather, or wing, most likely referring to the tall erect dorsal fin of males.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2024

Without the malleus and incus, sound waves would not be collected by the pinna.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Without the malleus and incus, the vibrations of the pinna would not be able to reach the stapes and then be sent to the cochlea.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The leaflet, or pinna, of the glade fern is quite coarse and contrasts strikingly with its wispier neighbor.

From Washington Post • Jul. 8, 2015

But I guess that if the Latin word for feather had been frindilus instead of pinna, then you probably would have invented the word pen instead.

From "Frindle" by Andrew Clements

Related Words

• brochure
• flier
• handbill
• handout
• pamphlet