papilla

views updated May 18 2018

pa·pil·la / pəˈpilə/ • n. (pl. -pil·lae / -ˈpilˌē; -ˈpilˌī/ ) a small rounded protuberance on a part or organ of the body. ∎ a small fleshy projection on a plant.DERIVATIVES: pap·il·lar·y / ˈpapəˌlerē/ adj.pap·il·late / ˈpapəˌlāt; pəˈpilit/ adj.pap·il·lose / ˈpäpəˌlōs; -ˌlōz/ adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

papilla

views updated May 21 2018

papilla (pă-pil-ă) n. (pl. papillae) any small nipple-shaped protuberance. Several different kinds of papillae occur on the tongue, in association with the taste buds. optic p. see optic (disc).
—papillary adj.

A Dictionary of Nursing

papilla

views updated May 14 2018

papilla nipple-like protuberance. XVIII. — L. (see PAP1).
So papillary XVII.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

papilla

views updated May 29 2018

papilla Any cone-shaped protuberance projecting from the surface of an organ or organism. Papillae occur, for example, on the tongue, in the kidneys, and, in plants, on the surface of many petals.

A Dictionary of Biology