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Webster's New World College Dictionary » spiracular
spiracular
Variant of spiracle
spiracle
definition
spi·ra·cle (spir′ə kəl, spī′rə-)
noun
- a small opening allowing the outer air to come through into a confined space; air hole
- Geol. a small vent formed on the surface of a thick lava flow
- Zool. an aperture for breathing, as
- any of the small external openings of the tracheal respiratory system in most terrestrial arthropods, ordinarily along the sides of certain thoracic and abdominal segments; stigma
- any of various similar openings for the passage of air or respiratory water, as in tadpoles
- blowhole (sense )
Etymology: ME < L spiraculum < spirare, to breathe: see spirit
Related Forms:
- spiracular spi·rac′u·lar (spī rak′yo̵o lər, spi-) adjective
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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