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proboscis Definition

pro·bos·cis (prō bäs′is)

noun pl. proboscises -·cises or proboscides -·ci·des′ (-ə dēz′)

  1. an elephant's trunk, or a long, flexible snout, as of a tapir
  2. any tubular organ for sucking, food-gathering, sensing, etc., as of some insects, worms, and mollusks
  3. a person's nose, esp. if large: a jocular usage

Etymology: L < Gr proboskis < pro-, before + boskein, to feed, graze, prob. akin to bous, cow

proboscis Usage Examples

Possessives

  • mosquito: Test out a mosquito's long proboscis or a white cockatoo's plumage.

Converse of object

  • have: Yes, each insect has a very long proboscis, designed to reach deep into flowers to the nectar.
  • call: Head The head holds the eyes and the antennae and the nectar sipping tongue called the proboscis.
  • recoil: When touched, the expandable proboscis recoiled under a rock.

Adjective modifier

  • long: Looking down at the palm of her hand, she saw an insect with a long proboscis, oozing blood, her own blood.
  • expandable: When touched, the expandable proboscis recoiled under a rock.
  • short: Parallel evolution even led to the evolution of a short proboscis similar to that found in Tapirus.

Modifies a noun

  • monkey: Proboscis monkeys are named for their large, round noses.