proboscis
pro·bos·cis
noun \prə-ˈbä-səs, -ˈbäs-kəs\ plural pro·bos·cis·es also pro·bos·ci·des\-ˈbä-sə-ˌdēz\
Definition of PROBOSCIS
1
a : the trunk of an elephant; also : any long flexible snout b : the human nose especially when prominent
2
: any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region of an invertebrate
Examples of PROBOSCIS
- <if there were a direct relation between mendacity and the length of one's proboscis, hers would be a mile long>
Origin of PROBOSCIS
Latin, from Greek proboskis, from pro- + boskein to feed
First Known Use: 1609
Related to PROBOSCIS
Other Insect Terms
Rhymes with PROBOSCIS
pro·bos·cis
noun \prə-ˈbäs-əs, -kəs\ (Medical Dictionary)plural ; pro·bos·cis·esalso ; pro·bos·ci·des \-ˈbäs-ə-ˌdēz\ (audio pronunciation)
Medical Definition of PROBOSCIS
: any of various elongated or extensible tubular organs or processes especially of the oral region of an invertebrate: as a : a sucking organ of insects (as houseflies or mosquitoes) that is often also adapted for piercing b : one of the complex protrusible holdfasts on the scolex of certain tapeworms
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