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Lacuna - 6 dictionary results

la⋅cu⋅na

[luh-kyoo-nuh]
–noun, plural -nae [-nee] , -nas.
1. a gap or missing part, as in a manuscript, series, or logical argument; hiatus.
2. Anatomy. one of the numerous minute cavities in the substance of bone, supposed to contain nucleate cells.
3. Botany. an air space in the cellular tissue of plants.

Origin:
1655–65; < L lacūna ditch, pit, hole, gap, deficiency, akin to lacus vat, lake 1 . Cf. lagoon
la·cu·na   (lə-kyōō'nə)   
n.   pl. la·cu·nae (-nē) or la·cu·nas
  1. An empty space or a missing part; a gap: "self-centered in opinion, with curious lacunae of astounding ignorance" (Frank Norris).
  2. Anatomy A cavity, space, or depression, especially in a bone, containing cartilage or bone cells.

[Latin lacūna; see lagoon.]
la·cu'nal adj.

Lacuna

La*cu"na\, n.; pl. L. Lacun[ae]; E. Lacunas. [L., ditch, pit, lake, orig., anything hollow. See Lagoon.]

1. A small opening; a small pit or depression; a small blank space; a gap or vacancy; a hiatus.

2. (Biol.) A small opening; a small depression or cavity; a space, as a vacant space between the cells of plants, or one of the spaces left among the tissues of the lower animals, which serve in place of vessels for the circulation of the body fluids, or the cavity or sac, usually of very small size, in a mucous membrane.

lacuna 
1663, "blank or missing portion in a manuscript," from L. lacuna "hole, pit," dim. of lacus "pond, lake" (see lake (1)).

Main Entry: la·cu·na
Pronunciation: l&-'k(y)ü-n&
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural la·cu·nae /-'kyü-(")nE, -'kü-"nI/
: a small cavity, pit, or discontinuity in an anatomical structure: as a : one of the follicles in the mucous membrane of theurethra b : one of the minute cavities in bone or cartilage occupied by the osteocytes —la·cu·nar /-'k(y)ü-n&r/ adjective

lacuna la·cu·na (lə-ky&oomacr;'nə)
n. pl. la·cu·nas or la·cu·nae (-nē)

  1. An anatomical cavity, space, or depression, especially in a bone.
  2. An empty space or a missing part; a gap; a defect.
  3. An abnormal space between the strata or between the cellular elements of the epidermis.
  4. See corneal space.

la·cu'nal adj.

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