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stigma - 7 dictionary results
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stig⋅ma

  [stig-muh]
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–noun, plural stig⋅ma⋅ta  [stig-muh-tuh, stig-mah-tuh, -mat-uh] , stig⋅mas.
1. a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation.
2. Medicine/Medical.
a. a mental or physical mark that is characteristic of a defect or disease: the stigmata of leprosy.
b. a place or point on the skin that bleeds during certain mental states, as in hysteria.
3. Zoology.
a. a small mark, spot, or pore on an animal or organ.
b. the eyespot of a protozoan.
c. an entrance into the respiratory system of insects.
4. Botany. the part of a pistil that receives the pollen.
5. stigmata, marks resembling the wounds of the crucified body of Christ, said to be supernaturally impressed on the bodies of certain persons, esp. nuns, tertiaries, and monastics.
6. Archaic. a mark made by a branding iron on the skin of a criminal or slave.
Origin:
1580–90; < L < Gk stígma tattoo mark, equiv. to stig- (s. of stízein to tattoo) + -ma n. suffix denoting result of action; see stick 2

Synonyms:
1. blot, blemish, tarnish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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stig·ma   (stĭg'mə)   
n.   pl. stig·ma·ta (stĭg-mä'tə, -māt'ə, stĭg'mə-) or stig·mas
  1. A mark or token of infamy, disgrace, or reproach: "Party affiliation has never been more casual . . . The stigmata of decay are everywhere" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.) See Synonyms at stain.
  2. A small mark; a scar or birthmark.
  3. Medicine A mark or characteristic indicative of a history of a disease or abnormality.
  4. Psychology A mark or spot on the skin that bleeds as a symptom of hysteria.
  5. stigmata Bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain corresponding in location to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, usually occurring during states of religious ecstasy or hysteria.
  6. Biology A small mark, spot, or pore, such as the respiratory spiracle of an insect or an eyespot in certain algae.
  7. Botany The receptive apex of the pistil of a flower, on which pollen is deposited at pollination.
  8. Archaic A mark burned into the skin of a criminal or slave; a brand.

[Middle English stigme, brand, from Latin stigma, stigmat-, tattoo indicating slave or criminal status, from Greek, tattoo mark, from stizein, stig-, to prick; see steig- in Indo-European roots.]
stig'mal adj.
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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Stigma

Stig"ma\, n.; pl. E. Stigmas, L. Stigmata. [L., a mark, a brand, from Gr. ?, ?, the prick or mark of a pointed instrument, a spot, mark, from ? to prick, to brand. See Stick, v. t.]

1. A mark made with a burning iron; a brand.

2. Any mark of infamy or disgrace; sign of moral blemish; stain or reproach caused by dishonorable conduct; reproachful characterization.

The blackest stigma that can be fastened upon him. --Bp. Hall.

All such slaughters were from thence called Bartelmies, simply in a perpetual stigma of that butchery. --Sir G. Buck.

3. (Bot.) That part of a pistil which has no epidermis, and is fitted to receive the pollen. It is usually the terminal portion, and is commonly somewhat glutinous or viscid. See Illust. of Stamen and of Flower.

4. (Anat.) A small spot, mark, scar, or a minute hole; -- applied especially to a spot on the outer surface of a Graafian follicle, and to spots of intercellular substance in scaly epithelium, or to minute holes in such spots.

5. (Pathol.) A red speck upon the skin, produced either by the extravasation of blood, as in the bloody sweat characteristic of certain varieties of religious ecstasy, or by capillary congestion, as in the case of drunkards.

6. (Zo["o]l.) (a) One of the external openings of the trache[ae] of insects, myriapods, and other arthropods; a spiracle. (b) One of the apertures of the pulmonary sacs of arachnids. See Illust. of Scorpion. (c) One of the apertures of the gill of an ascidian, and of Amphioxus.

7. (Geom.) A point so connected by any law whatever with another point, called an index, that as the index moves in any manner in a plane the first point or stigma moves in a determinate way in the same plane.

8. pl. (R. C. Ch.) Marks believed to have been supernaturally impressed upon the bodies of certain persons in imitation of the wounds on the crucified body of Christ. See def. 5, above.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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stigma 
1596, "mark made on skin by burning with a hot iron," from L. stigma (pl. stigmata), from Gk. stigma (gen. stigmatos) "mark, puncture," especially one made by a pointed instrument, from root of stizein "to mark, tattoo," from PIE *st(e)ig- (see stick (v.)). Fig. meaning "a mark of disgrace" is from 1619, as is stigmatize in this sense. Stigmas "marks resembling the wounds on the body of Christ, appearing supernaturally on the bodies of the devout" is from 1632; earlier stigmate (1387), from L. stigmata.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: stig·ma
Pronunciation: 'stig-m&
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural stig·ma·ta /stig-'mät-&,'stig-m&t-&/ or stigmas
1 : an identifying mark or characteristic; specifically : a specific diagnostic sign of a disease stigmata of syphilis>
2 : PETECHIA
3 : a small spot, scar, or opening on aplant or animal
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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stigma stig·ma (stĭg'mə)
n. pl. stig·mas or stig·ma·ta (stĭg-mä'tə, -māt'ə, stĭg'mə-)

  1. Visible evidence of a disease.
  2. A spot or blemish on the skin.
  3. A bleeding spot on the skin considered as a manifestation of conversion disorder.
  4. The orange pigmented eyespot of certain chlorophyll-bearing protozoa, such as Euglena viridis. It serves as a light filter by absorbing certain wavelengths.
  5. A mark of shame or discredit.
  6. Follicular stigma.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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stigma   (stĭg'mə)  Pronunciation Key 
The sticky tip of a flower pistil, on which pollen is deposited at the beginning of pollination. See more at flower.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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