stoma Hear it!

stoma definition

stoma (stō′mə)

noun pl. stomata -·mata (-mə tə) or stomas -·mas

  1. Bot. a microscopic opening in the epidermis of plants, surrounded by guard cells and serving for gaseous exchange
  2. Zool. a mouth or mouthlike opening; esp., an ingestive opening in lower invertebrates

Etymology: ModL < Gr, mouth < IE *stomen, mouth > Avestan staman-, (dog's) mouth

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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