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alveolus definition

al·veo·lus (al vē′ə ləs)

noun pl. alveoli -·li′ (-lī′, -lē′)

  1. Anat., Zool. a small cavity or hollow, as a cell of a honeycomb, air cell of a lung, tooth socket, etc.
  2. the alveolar ridge; teethridge

Etymology: L, dim. of alveus, a hollow, cavity < alvus, the belly, womb < IE base *au-lo-s > Gr aulos, flute, Lith aulỹs, beehive

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical alveolus definition - medical

alveolus Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • call: The hollow chamber at the front of the guard is called the alveolus.

Adjective modifier

  • small: The small alveolus will get smaller, the large one will get larger, and so on until the small alveolus collapses completely!

Modifies a noun

  • cannot: The alveoli cannot deflate completely so less oxygen is taken into the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties.

Noun used with modifier

  • lung: However, deep inhalation is still required to produce the rapid pulse of nicotine to the brain associated with absorption in the lung alveoli.

Preposition: in

  • lung: There are about 300 million alveoli in each lung.

Preposition: of

  • lung: External respiration takes place in the alveoli of the lungs.
alveolus usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"alveolus." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/alveolus>

APA Style

alveolus. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/alveolus

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