plural glossae
ˈglä-ˌsē 
-ˌsī,
ˈglȯ-
also glossas
: a tongue or lingual structure especially in an insect
especially
: the median distal lobe of the labium of an insect
Examples of glossa in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One lap of a bee's tongue—from stretching out the glossa to extending the hairs like an umbrella and folding everything up again—lasts just 400 milliseconds.
—
Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
This picture focuses on the bee's tongue, called the glossa.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
The honeybee's tongue, called a glossa, is about 2.5 millimeters long in this species.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
This picture focuses on the bee's tongue, called the glossa.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
The honeybee's tongue, called a glossa, is about 2.5 millimeters long in this species.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
Dictionary Entries Near glossa
Cite this Entry
“Glossa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glossa. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share