turbinate Hear it!

turbinate definition

tur·bi·nate (tʉr′bi nit, -nāt′)

adjective

  1. shaped like a cone resting on its apex, as a molluskan shell
  2. shaped like a scroll or spiral; specif., designating or of any of certain spiral, spongy bones in the nasal passages
Also turbinated tur′·bi·nat′ed (-nāt′id) or turbinal tur′·bi·nal

Etymology: L turbinatus < turbo (gen. turbinis), a whirl, rotation: for IE base see turbid

noun

  1. a turbinate shell
  2. a turbinate bone

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.