alveolus

[ al-vee-uh-luh s ]
/ ælˈvi ə ləs /

noun, plural al·ve·o·li [al-vee-uh-lahy] /ælˈvi əˌlaɪ/.

a little cavity, pit, or cell, as a cell of a honeycomb.
an air cell of the lungs, formed by the terminal dilation of tiny air passageways.
one of the terminal secretory units of a racemose gland.
the socket within the jawbone in which the root or roots of a tooth are set.

Origin of alveolus

1700–10; < Latin, equivalent to alve(us) concave vessel + -olus -ole1

Example sentences from the Web for alveolus

British Dictionary definitions for alveolus

alveolus
/ (ælˈvɪələs) /

noun plural -li (-ˌlaɪ)

any small pit, cavity, or saclike dilation, such as a honeycomb cell
any of the sockets in which the roots of the teeth are embedded
any of the tiny air sacs in the lungs at the end of the bronchioles, through which oxygen is taken into the blood

Word Origin for alveolus

C18: from Latin: a little hollow, diminutive of alveus

Medical definitions for alveolus

alveolus
[ ăl-vēə-ləs ]

n. pl. al•ve•o•li (-lī′)

A small angular cavity or pit, such as a tooth socket or an air sac.

Scientific definitions for alveolus

alveolus
[ ăl-vēə-ləs ]

Plural alveoli (ăl-vēə-lī′)

Any of the tiny air-filled sacs arranged in clusters in the lungs, in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. Also called air sac