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proboscis

 - 5 dictionary results

pro⋅bos⋅cis

  [proh-bos-is, -kis]
Use proboscis in a Sentence
–noun, plural -bos⋅cis⋅es, -bos⋅ci⋅des  [-bos-i-deez] .
1. the trunk of an elephant.
2. any long flexible snout, as of the tapir.
3. Also called beak. the elongate, protruding mouth parts of certain insects, adapted for sucking or piercing.
4. any of various elongate feeding, defensive, or sensory organs of the oral region, as in certain leeches and worms.
5. Facetious. the human nose, esp. when unusually long or prominent.
Origin:
1570–80; < L < Gk proboskís elephant's trunk, lit., feeder, equiv. to pro- pro- 2 + bósk(ein) to feed + -is (s. -id-) n. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pro·bos·cis   (prō-bŏs'ĭs)   
n.   pl. pro·bos·cis·es or pro·bos·ci·des (-bŏs'ĭ-dēz')

  1. A long flexible snout or trunk, as of an elephant.

  2. The slender, tubular feeding and sucking organ of certain invertebrates, such as insects, worms, and mollusks.

  3. A human nose, especially a prominent one.


[Latin, from Greek proboskis : pro-, in front; see pro-2 + boskein, to feed.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

proboscis 
1609, "elephant's trunk," from L. proboscis (Pliny), from Gk. proboskis "elephant's trunk," lit. "means for taking food," from pro "forward" + boskein "to nourish, feed," from boskesthai "graze, be fed," from stem *bot- (cf. botane "grass, fodder;" see botany).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pro·bos·cis
Pronunciation: pr&-'bäs-&s, -k&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural pro·bos·cis·es also pro·bos·ci·des /-'bäs-&-"dEz/
: any of various elongated or extensible tubularorgans or processes especially of the oral region of an invertebrate: as a : a sucking organ of insects (as houseflies or mosquitoes) that is often also adapted for piercing b : one of the complex protrusible holdfasts on the scolex of certain tapeworms
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Science Dictionary
proboscis   (prō-bŏs'ĭs)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural proboscises or proboscides (prō-bŏs'ĭ-dēz')

  1. A long, flexible snout or trunk, as of an elephant.

  2. The slender, tubular feeding and sucking organ of certain invertebrates, such as butterflies and mosquitoes.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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