proboscis

noun pro·bos·cis \ prə-ˈbä-səs , -ˈbäs-kəs \

Definition of proboscis

plural proboscises also proboscides play \-ˈbä-sə-ˌdēz\

1 a :the trunk of an elephant; also :any long flexible snout

b :the human nose especially when prominent

2 :any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (such as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region of an invertebrate

See proboscis defined for English-language learners

See proboscis defined for kids

Examples of proboscis in a Sentence

if there were a direct relation between mendacity and the length of one's proboscis, hers would be a mile long

Recent Examples of proboscis from the Web

Beware: That proboscis of theirs can leave a painful nip.

— ellen nibali, baltimoresun.com, "Garden Q&A: Black-eyed Susans with fungal leaf spot disease," 11 July 2017
This implies that Macrauchenia may have had a mobile proboscis, as pictured here.

— josh rosenblatt, Fox News, "Animal that flummoxed Darwin finds its genetic home," 28 June 2017
Having a big nose: structure, ontogeny, and function of the elephant seal proboscis.

— darren naish, Scientific American Blog Network, "Incredible Elephant Seals, Part 1," 3 June 2017
While one tube in the proboscis draws blood, a second pumps in saliva containing a mild painkiller and an anti-coagulant.

— karen farkas, cleveland.com, "Mosquitoes: 20 fun facts about the pesky insects," 17 May 2017
The males’ large trunk-like nose, called a proboscis, helps them produce their signature sound and is the namesake for the species.

— jesse ryan, USA TODAY, "Get a rare, up-close look at elephant seals in VR," 11 May 2017
The assassin bug's deadly proboscis is both sword and siphon.

— smithsonianmag.com, "Why the Assassin Bug More Than Lives Up to Its Name," 2 May 2017
Rather, the team of SNL makeup artists and costume people had roughly four minutes to execute that transition, attaching a proboscis-like mask to McKinnon's face and draping her in nets and seaweed.

— sarah rense, Esquire, "This Behind-the-Scenes SNL Video Proves Kate McKinnon Is Already One of the Greats," 21 Mar. 2017
The extending proboscis of Alberto Giacometti’s Nose may recall the organic extensions of the Dendrochilum wenzelii.

— roger catlin, Smithsonian, "Why Orchids Belong in an Art Museum," 8 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proboscis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of proboscis

Origin and Etymology of proboscis

Latin, from Greek proboskis, from pro- + boskein to feed

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1601

See Words from the same year

proboscis Synonyms

Synonyms

beak, conk [chiefly British slang], honker [slang], neb, nozzle [slang], nose, schnoz (or schnozz) [slang], schnozzle [slang], smeller, snoot, snout

Related Words

pug, pugnose

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, vespine

PROBOSCIS Defined for English Language Learners

proboscis

noun

Definition of proboscis for English Language Learners

biology : the long, thin nose of some animals (such as an elephant)
biology : a long, thin tube that forms part of the mouth of some insects (such as a butterfly)
: a person's nose especially when it is very long or big