ligula

[ lig-yuh-luh ]
/ ˈlɪg yə lə /

noun, plural lig·u·lae [lig-yuh-lee] /ˈlɪg yəˌli/, lig·u·las.

Botany, Zoology. a tonguelike or strap-shaped part or organ.
Botany. ligule.

Origin of ligula

1750–60; < New Latin, special use of Latin li(n)gula spoon, shoe-strap, equivalent to lig-, variant stem of lingere to lick + -ula -ule

OTHER WORDS FROM ligula

lig·u·lar, adjective lig·u·loid, adjective

Words nearby ligula

lignocaine, lignocellulose, lignum, lignum vitae, ligroin, ligula, ligulate, ligule, ligure, liguria, ligurian

Example sentences from the Web for ligula

British Dictionary definitions for ligula

ligula
/ (ˈlɪɡjʊlə) /

noun plural -lae (-ˌliː) or -las

entomol the terminal part of the labium of an insect consisting of paired lobes
a variant spelling of ligule

Derived forms of ligula

ligular, adjective liguloid, adjective

Word Origin for ligula

C18: New Latin; see ligule