plural setae
ˈsē-ˌtē 
: a slender usually rigid or bristly and springy organ or part of an animal or plant
Examples of seta in a Sentence
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Stinging caterpillars do not actively try to sting predators; but when they are touched, their hairy setae break off on the attacker and the poison is released.
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Jefferson County Cooperative Extension, AL.com, 22 Aug. 2017
These setae are divided at the tip into millions of nanoscale structures called spatulae.
—National Geographic, 9 July 2016
In 2006, Stanford researchers took inspiration from geckos to create a robot that clambered along surfaces using synthetic setae, the tiny, sticky hairs that give geckos their climbing skills.
—Katie Drummond, WIRED, 3 Feb. 2010
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Jefferson County Cooperative Extension, AL.com, 22 Aug. 2017
These setae are divided at the tip into millions of nanoscale structures called spatulae.
—National Geographic, 9 July 2016
In 2006, Stanford researchers took inspiration from geckos to create a robot that clambered along surfaces using synthetic setae, the tiny, sticky hairs that give geckos their climbing skills.
—Katie Drummond, WIRED, 3 Feb. 2010
Cite this Entry
“Seta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seta. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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