fenestra

noun

fe·​nes·​tra fə-ˈne-strə How to pronounce fenestra (audio)
plural fenestrae fə-ˈne-ˌstrē How to pronounce fenestra (audio)
-ˌtrī
1
: a small anatomical opening (as in a bone): such as
a
or fenestra ovalis or fenestra vestibuli : oval window
b
or fenestra cochleae
-ˈkä-klē-ˌē How to pronounce fenestra (audio)
-ˈkō-klē-ˌī
or fenestra rotunda : round window
2
: an opening cut in bone
fenestral adjective

Examples of fenestra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In most meat-eating dinosaurs, a ridge of bone provides a roof over an opening in the skull in front of the eye sockets known as the antorbital fenestra. Matthew A. Brown, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2021 Pterosaurs also had extra openings in their skulls, the largest of which was an opening in front of the eyes known as an antorbital fenestra. Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2019 The massive dinosaur had two large holes in the roof of its skull (dorsotemporal fenestra) that were filled with muscles to aid jaw movements. Fox News, 6 Sep. 2019 The specialized pocket sits within an opening on the top rear of the skull called the dorsotemporal fenestra. Riley Black, Smithsonian, 4 Sep. 2019 All these animals are united by subtle skull features, such as the absence of a hole in the lower jaw called the mandibular fenestra and the flat, wrinkle-cusped teeth set along the jaws. Brian Switek, WIRED, 6 June 2012

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fenestra.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, window

First Known Use

circa 1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fenestra was circa 1737

Dictionary Entries Near fenestra

Cite this Entry

“Fenestra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fenestra. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

fenestra

noun
fe·​nes·​tra fə-ˈnes-trə How to pronounce fenestra (audio)
plural fenestrae -ˌtrē How to pronounce fenestra (audio) -ˌtrī How to pronounce fenestra (audio)
1
: a small anatomical opening (as in a bone): as
2
a
: a small opening cut in bone : window sense 2
b
: a small opening in a surgical instrument (as an endoscope)
fenestral adjective
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