alveola

noun

al·​ve·​o·​la

alˈvēələ

plural alveolae

-ˌlē,

-ˌlī

1

: a small depression or pit: such as

a

: one of the pits in the naked receptacle of composite plants

b

: a pore of such fungi as Polyporus

c

: the pitted perithecium in certain fungi

2

: alveolus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, alteration of Latin alveolus small cavity

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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