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
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glossa.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin, borrowed from Greek glôssa "tongue" — more at gloss entry 3
First Known Use
circa 1852, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near glossa
Cite this Entry
“Glossa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glossa. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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