Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

ampulla

noun am·pul·la \ am-ˈpu̇-lə , ˈam-ˌpyü-lə \

Definition of ampulla

plural ampullae play \-(ˌ)lē, -ˌlī\
1 :a glass or earthenware flask with a globular body and two handles used especially by the ancient Romans to hold ointment, perfume, or wine
2 :a saccular anatomical swelling or pouch
—

ampullary

play \am-ˈpu̇-lər-ē, ˈam-pyə-ˌler-ē\ adjective

Read the Latest from M-W

image989362072
8 Words for Trickery and Deception
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
alt-59ee3fc46688e
'Dis': From Early Rap to Academic Journals
alt-59e8af1b31525
Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

Origin and Etymology of ampulla

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin, diminutive of amphora

Medical Dictionary

ampulla

noun am·pul·la \ am-ˈpu̇-lə , ˈam-ˌpyü-lə \

medical Definition of ampulla

plural ampullae play \-ˌlē\
:a saccular anatomic swelling or pouch: as
a :the dilatation containing a patch of sensory epithelium at one end of each semicircular canal of the ear
b :one of the dilatations of the lactiferous tubules of the mammary glands that serve as reservoirs for milk
c (1) :the middle portion of the fallopian tube
(2) :the distal dilatation of a vas deferens near the opening of the duct leading from the seminal vesicle
d :a terminal dilatation of the rectum just before it joins the anal canal

Learn More about ampulla

  1. See words that rhyme with ampulla Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ampulla

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ampulla? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

pelf

play

money or riches

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. imbroglio "a public scandal"

  2. spurious of a deceitful nature or quality

  3. righteous We provide an assortment of definitions

  4. Kafkaesque 'A nightmarish quality'

  5. mike "microphone"

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

The Exceptions Quiz III

  • one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots
  • Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image989362072
8 Words That Put One Over on You

They'll put one over on you

alt-59ee3fc46688e
'Dis': From Early Rap to Academic Journals

The word has quickly taken center stage

alt-59ea52ed7b96f
Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Where did we get 'freshman' and 'sophomore'?

alt-59e900afadac6
The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

In the past, you could invent fruit.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots
The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these things doesn't belong?

Take the quiz
knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus
Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game