proboscis

views updated Jun 08 2018

pro·bos·cis / prəˈbäsəs; -ˈbäskəs/ • n. (pl. -bos·cis·es, -bos·ci·des / -ˈbäsəˌdēz/ , or -bos·ces / -ˈbäsēz/ ) the nose of a mammal, esp. when it is long and mobile, such as the trunk of an elephant or the snout of a tapir. ∎ Entomol. (in many insects) an elongated sucking mouthpart that is typically tubular and flexible. ∎ Zool. (in some worms) an extensible tubular sucking organ.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

proboscis

views updated May 17 2018

proboscis
1. The trunk of an elephant: a muscular and very flexible elongation of the nose, which has a finger-like extremity and is capable of picking up and moving objects, taking in water, collecting food, etc.

2. The elongated mouthparts of certain invertebrates, such as the two-winged flies (Diptera).

A Dictionary of Biology

proboscis

views updated May 23 2018

proboscis elephant's trunk; elongated (tubular) part of insect's mouth. XVII. — L. — Gr. proboskís lit. ‘means of providing food’, f. PRO-2 + bóskein cause to feed.

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

proboscis

views updated Jun 27 2018

proboscis A tubular protrusion from the anterior of an animal.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

proboscis

views updated May 23 2018

proboscis A tubular protrusion from the anterior of an animal.

A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY

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