Ostia

[ os-tee-uh; Italian aw-styah ]
/ ˈɒs ti ə; Italian ˈɔ styɑ /

noun

a town in central Italy, SW of Rome: ruins from 4th century b.c.; site of ancient port of Rome.

Definition for ostia (2 of 2)

ostium
[ os-tee-uh m ]
/ ˈɒs ti əm /

noun, plural os·ti·a [os-tee-uh] /ˈɒs ti ə/.

Anatomy, Zoology. a small opening or orifice, as at the end of the oviduct.
Zoology. one of the tiny holes in the body of a sponge.

Origin of ostium

First recorded in 1655–65, ostium is from the Latin word ōstium entrance, river mouth

Example sentences from the Web for ostia

British Dictionary definitions for ostia (1 of 2)

Ostia
/ (ˈɒstɪə) /

noun

an ancient town in W central Italy, originally at the mouth of the Tiber but now about 6 km (4 miles) inland: served as the port of ancient Rome; harbours built by Claudius and Trajan; ruins excavated since 1854

British Dictionary definitions for ostia (2 of 2)

ostium
/ (ˈɒstɪəm) /

noun plural -tia (-tɪə) biology

any of the pores in sponges through which water enters the body
any of the openings in the heart of an arthropod through which blood enters
any similar opening

Word Origin for ostium

C17: from Latin: door, entrance

Medical definitions for ostia

ostium
[ ŏstē-əm ]

n. pl. os•ti•a (-tē-ə)

A small opening or orifice, as in a body organ.

Other words from ostium

osti•al adj.