View synonyms for speculum

speculum

[ spek-yuh-luhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural spec·u·la [spek, -y, uh, -l, uh], spec·u·lums.

a mirror or reflector, especially one of polished metal, as on a reflecting telescope.
speculum metal.
Surgery. an instrument for rendering a part accessible to observation, as by enlarging an orifice.
Ornithology. a lustrous or specially colored area on the wings of certain birds.

speculum

/ ˈspɛkjʊləm /

a mirror, esp one made of polished metal for use in a telescope, etc
med an instrument for dilating a bodily cavity or passage to permit examination of its interior
a patch of distinctive colour on the wing of a bird, esp in certain ducks

1590–1600; < Latin: mirror, equivalent to spec ( ere ) to look, behold + -ulum instrumental suffix; -ule

C16: from Latin: mirror, from specere to look at

Videmus nunc per speculum in nigmate, tunc autem facie ad faciem.

The speculum is gray; bill, bluish with a pale blue band across it about a half inch from the end.

The general color is buff, mottled with brown; wing-coverts and speculum, same as the male.

The lesser scaup, or little blue-bill (Aythya affinis) has a white speculum also, but the sheen of the head and neck is purple.

The Daily Speculum rose to a million a day on the strength of its photographs of bridal-parties alone.

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