plural glossae
ˈglä-ˌsē 
-ˌsī,
ˈglȯ-
also glossas
: a tongue or lingual structure especially in an insect
especially
: the median distal lobe of the labium of an insect
Examples of glossa in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One lap of a bee's tongue—from stretching out the glossa to extending the hairs like an umbrella and folding everything up again—lasts just 400 milliseconds.
—
Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
This picture focuses on the bee's tongue, called the glossa.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
The honeybee's tongue, called a glossa, is about 2.5 millimeters long in this species.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
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Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
This picture focuses on the bee's tongue, called the glossa.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
The honeybee's tongue, called a glossa, is about 2.5 millimeters long in this species.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
Cite this Entry
“Glossa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glossa. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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