utricle

[ yoo-tri-kuh l ]
/ ˈyu trɪ kəl /

noun

a small sac or baglike body, as an air-filled cavity in a seaweed.
Botany. a thin bladderlike pericarp or seed vessel.
Anatomy. the larger of two sacs in the membranous labyrinth of the internal ear. Compare saccule(def 1).

Origin of utricle

1725–35; < Latin utriculus, diminutive of uter bag; see -cle1

Example sentences from the Web for utricle

British Dictionary definitions for utricle

utricle

utriculus (juːˈtrɪkjʊləs)

/ (ˈjuːtrɪkəl) /

noun plural utricles or utriculi (juːˈtrɪkjʊˌlaɪ)

anatomy the larger of the two parts of the membranous labyrinth of the internal ear Compare saccule
botany the bladder-like one-seeded indehiscent fruit of certain plants, esp sedges

Derived forms of utricle

utricular or utriculate, adjective

Word Origin for utricle

C18: from Latin ūtriculus diminutive of ūter bag