osculum
[
os
-ky
uh
-l
uh
m]
/ˈɒs kyə ləm/
noun
,
plural
oscula
[
os
-ky
uh
-l
uh
]
/ˈɒs kyə lə/
(
Show IPA
)
1.
a small mouthlike aperture, as of a sponge.
Origin
1605-15;
<
Neo-Latin,
Latin
ōsculum,
equivalent to
ōs
mouth +
-culum
-cule
1
British Dictionary definitions for
osculum
osculum
/
ˈɒskjʊləm
/
noun
(
pl
)
-la
(
-lə
)
1.
(
zoology
) a mouthlike aperture, esp the opening in a sponge out of which water passes
Word Origin
C17: from Latin: a kiss, little mouth, diminutive of
ōs
mouth
osculum
in Medicine
osculum
os·cu·lum (ŏs'kyə-ləm)
n.
pl.
os·cu·la
(-lə)
A pore or minute opening.