speculum
[ spek-yuh-luh m ]
/ ˈspɛk yə ləm /
noun, plural spec·u·la [spek-yuh-luh] /ˈspɛk yə lə/, spec·u·lums.
a mirror or reflector, especially one of polished metal, as on a reflecting telescope.
Surgery.
an instrument for rendering a part accessible to observation, as by enlarging an orifice.
Ornithology.
a lustrous or specially colored area on the wings of certain birds.
Origin of speculum
1590–1600; < Latin: mirror, equivalent to
spec(ere) to look, behold +
-ulum instrumental suffix; see
-ule
Words nearby speculum
Example sentences from the Web for speculum
British Dictionary definitions for speculum
speculum
/ (ˈspɛkjʊləm) /
noun plural -la (-lə) or -lums
a mirror, esp one made of polished metal for use in a telescope, etc
med
an instrument for dilating a bodily cavity or passage to permit examination of its interior
a patch of distinctive colour on the wing of a bird, esp in certain ducks
Word Origin for speculum
C16: from Latin: mirror, from
specere to look at
Medical definitions for speculum
speculum
[ spĕk′yə-ləm ]
n. pl. spec•u•lums
A mirror or polished metal plate that is used as a reflector in optical instruments.
An instrument that is used to dilate the opening of a body cavity for medical examination.