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uvula

 - 5 dictionary results

u⋅vu⋅la

[yoo-vyuh-luh]
–noun, plural -las, -lae [-lee] . Anatomy.
the small, fleshy, conical body projecting downward from the middle of the soft palate.


Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML ūvula, equiv. to L ūv(a) grape + -ula -ule
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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u·vu·la   (yōō'vyə-lə)   
n.  A small, conical, fleshy mass of tissue suspended from the center of the soft palate.

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin ūvula, swollen uvula, diminutive of Latin ūva, grape, swollen uvula.]
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

uvula 
1392, from L.L. uvula, from L. uvola "small bunch of grapes," dim. of uva "grape," which is of unknown origin. So called from fancied resemblance of the organ to small grapes.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: uvu·la
Pronunciation: 'yü-vy&-l&
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural uvu·las /-l&z/ or uvu·lae /-"lE/
1 : the pendent fleshy lobe in the middle of the posterior border of the soft palate
2 : a lobe of the inferior vermisof the cerebellum located in front of the pyramid —uvu·lar /-l&r/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

uvula u·vu·la (y&oomacr;'vyə-lə)
n. pl. u·vu·las or u·vu·lae (-lē)
A small conical pendent fleshy mass of tissue, especially the uvula palatina.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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