ostiole

noun

os·​ti·​ole ˈä-stē-ˌōl How to pronounce ostiole (audio)
: a small bodily aperture, orifice, or pore

Examples of ostiole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As its spores ripen, the puffball’s outer skin, or cuticle, develops one or two small holes called ostioles through which millions of dry spores escape at the smallest disturbance. Dave Taft, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin ostiolum, from Latin, diminutive of ostium

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ostiole was in 1721

Dictionary Entries Near ostiole

Cite this Entry

“Ostiole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostiole. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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