flocculus

noun

floc·​cu·​lus ˈflä-kyə-ləs 

plural flocculi ˈflä-kyə-ˌlī  -ˌlē 

1

: a small loosely aggregated mass

2

: a bright or dark patch on the sun

Examples of flocculus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This dinosaur had a very small flocculus, a part of the brain key to eye fixation when the head, neck or body is in motion -- especially when targeting competitors or predators. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, diminutive of Latin floccus tuft of wool

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flocculus

• oculus

Medical Definition

flocculus

noun

floc·​cu·​lus -ləs 

plural flocculi -ˌlī  -ˌlē 

: a small irregular lobe on the undersurface of each hemisphere of the cerebellum that is linked with the corresponding side of the nodulus by a peduncle