fontanel

fon·ta·nel

noun \ˌfän-tə-ˈnel, ˈfän-tə-ˌ\

Definition of FONTANEL

: a membrane-covered opening in bone or between bones; specifically : any of the spaces closed by membranous structures between the uncompleted angles of the parietal bones and the neighboring bones of a fetal or young skull

Variants of FONTANEL

fon·ta·nel or fon·ta·nelle \ˌfän-tə-ˈnel, ˈfän-tə-ˌ\

Origin of FONTANEL

Middle English fontinelle a bodily hollow or pit, from Anglo-French funtainele, diminutive of funtaine fountain

First Known Use: 1741

Rhymes with FONTANEL

APL, Appenzell, aquarelle, asphodel, Azazel, bagatelle, barbicel, béchamel, brocatelle, Camberwell, caramel, caravel, carousel, cascabel, chanterelle, chaparral, Charles Martel, citadel, clientele, cockleshell, Cozumel, decibel, demoiselle, diving bell, fare-thee-well, immortelle, Jezebel, killer cell, kiss-and-tell, lenticel, mangonel, muscatel, ne'er-do-well, Neuchâtel, Neufchâtel, New Rochelle, nonpareil, organelle, oversell, parallel, pedicel, pennoncel, personnel, petronel, Philomel, pimpernel, rebel yell, red blood cell, Sanctus bell, San Rafael, São Miguel, show-and-tell, sickle cell, silver bell, solar cell, tortoiseshell, undersell, villanelle, white blood cell, William Tell, zinfandel

fon·ta·nel

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of FONTANEL

: a membrane-covered opening in bone or between bones; specifically : any of the spaces closed by membranous structures between the uncompleted angles of the parietal bones and the neighboring bones of a fetal or young skull

Variants of FONTANEL

fon·ta·nel or fon·ta·nelle \ˌfänt-^ən-ˈel, ˈfänt-^ən-ˌ\

fontanel

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

One of six soft spots at the junctions (sutures) of the cranial bones in an infant's skull, covered with tough, fibrous membrane. They allow molding of the head during birth. Some close by three months, others after a year, and still others by two years.

Variants of FONTANEL

fontanel or fontanelle