alveolus

noun al·ve·o·lus \ al-ˈvē-ə-ləs \

Definition of alveolus

plural alveoli play \-ˌlī, -(ˌ)lē\

1 : a small cavity or pit: such as

a : a socket in the jaw for a tooth

b : a small air-containing compartment of the lungs in which the bronchioles terminate and from which respiratory gases are exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries

c : an acinus of a compound gland

d : a cell of a honeycomb

2 : teethridge

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Origin and Etymology of alveolus

New Latin, from Latin, diminutive of alveus cavity, hollow, from alvus belly, beehive; akin to Lithuanian aulys beehive, Greek aulos tube, flute

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1702

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

alveolus

noun al·ve·o·lus \ al-ˈvē-ə-ləs \

medical Definition of alveolus

plural alveoli play \-ˌlī, -(ˌ)lē\

: a small cavity or pit: as

a : a socket in the jaw for a tooth

b : any of the small thin-walled air-containing compartments of the lung that are typically arranged in saclike clusters into which an alveolar duct terminates and from which respiratory gases are exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries

c : an acinus of a compound gland

d : any of the pits in the wall of the stomach into which the glands open