peduncle

(pē duŋkəl, pēduŋ′-)

noun

  1. Anat. a stalklike bundle of nerve fibers connecting various parts of the brain
  2. Bot.
    1. the stalk of a flower cluster or inflorescence
    2. the stalk of a solitary flower which is regarded as a reduced inflorescence, as in the narcissus
  3. Med. a narrow, stalklike base of a tumor or polyp
  4. Zool. a slender, stalklike part, as between the abdomen and middle section of an insect, or the stalk of a goose barnacle; pedicel

Origin: ModL pedunculus, dim. of L pes (gen. pedis), foot

Related Forms:

See peduncle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Botany The stalk of an inflorescence or a stalk bearing a solitary flower in a one-flowered inflorescence.
  2. Zoology A stalklike structure in invertebrate animals, usually serving as an attachment for a larger part or structure.
  3. Anatomy A stalklike bundle of nerve fibers connecting different parts of the brain.
  4. Medicine The stalklike base to which a polyp or tumor is attached.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin pedunculus

Origin: , diminutive of Latin pēs, ped-, foot; see ped- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • pe·dunˈcu·lar (pĭ-dŭngˈkyə-lər) adjective

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