cloaca

[ kloh-ey-kuh ]
/ kloʊˈeɪ kə /

noun, plural clo·a·cae [kloh-ey-see] /kloʊˈeɪ si/.

Zoology.
  1. the common cavity into which the intestinal, urinary, and generative canals open in birds, reptiles, amphibians, many fishes, and certain mammals.
  2. a similar cavity in invertebrates.
a sewer, especially an ancient sewer.

Origin of cloaca

1650–60; < Latin clo(u)āca, cluāca sewer, drain; probably akin to Greek klýzein to wash, wash away

OTHER WORDS FROM cloaca

clo·a·cal, adjective pre·clo·a·cal, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for cloaca

British Dictionary definitions for cloaca

cloaca
/ (kləʊˈeɪkə) /

noun plural -cae (-kiː)

a cavity in the pelvic region of most vertebrates, except higher mammals, and certain invertebrates, into which the alimentary canal and the genital and urinary ducts open
a sewer

Derived forms of cloaca

cloacal, adjective

Word Origin for cloaca

C18: from Latin: sewer; related to Greek kluzein to wash out

Medical definitions for cloaca

cloaca
[ klō-ākə ]

n.

In early embryos, the entodermally lined chamber into which the hindgut and allantois empty.
The common cavity into which the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts open in vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, birds, and some mammals.
An opening in a diseased bone containing a fragment of dead bone.

Other words from cloaca

clo•acal (-kəl) adj.

Scientific definitions for cloaca

cloaca
[ klō-ākə ]

Plural cloacae (klō-āsē′)

The body cavity into which the intestinal, urinary, and genital canals empty in birds, reptiles, amphibians, most fish, and monotremes. The cloaca has an opening for expelling its contents from the body, and in females it serves as the depository for sperm. Also called vent
See vent.