alveolus

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: al=ve=o=lus

CIDE DICTIONARY

alveolus, n. [L., a small hollow or cavity, dim. of alveus: cf. F. alvéole. See Alveary.].

•  A cell in a honeycomb.  [1913 Webster]
•  A small cavity in a coral, shell, or fossil  [1913 Webster]
•  A small depression, sac, or vesicle, as the socket of a tooth, the air cells of the lungs, the ultimate saccules of glands, etc.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

alveolus, n. (pl. alveoli)
1 a small cavity, pit, or hollow.
2 any of the many tiny air sacs of the lungs which allow for rapid gaseous exchange.
3 the bony socket for the root of a tooth.
4 the cell of a honeycomb.

Derivative

alveolate adj.

Etymology

L dimin. of alveus cavity

THESAURUS

alveolus

alveolar ridge, alveolation, antrum, apex, armpit, arytenoid cartilages, back, basin, blade, bowl, cavity, concave, concavity, crater, crypt, cup, dent, depression, dimple, dint, dip, dorsum, fold, follicle, funnel chest, furrow, gouge, hard palate, hole, hollow, hollow shell, honeycomb, impress, impression, imprint, indent, indentation, indention, indenture, lacuna, larynx, lips, nasal cavity, notch, oral cavity, palate, pharyngeal cavity, pharynx, pit, pock, pocket, pockmark, print, punch bowl, scoop, shell, sink, sinus, socket, soft palate, speech organ, sunken part, syrinx, teeth, teeth ridge, tip, tongue, trough, velum, vocal chink, vocal cords, vocal folds, vocal processes, voice box, vug

ROGET THESAURUS

alveolus

Concavity

N concavity, depression, dip, hollow, hollowness, indentation, intaglio, cavity, dent, dint, dimple, follicle, pit, sinus, alveolus, lacuna, excavation, strip mine, trough, honeycomb, cup, basin, crater, punch bowl, cell, socket, valley, vale, dale, dell, dingle, combe, bottom, slade, strath, glade, grove, glen, cave, cavern, cove, grot, grotto, alcove, cul-de- sac, gully, arch, bay, excavator, sapper, miner, honeycomb (sponge), depressed, alveolate, calathiform, cup-shaped, dishing, favaginous, faveolate, favose, scyphiform, scyphose, concave, hollow, stove in, retiring, retreating, cavernous, porous, infundibul, infundibular, infundibuliform, funnel shaped, bell shaped, campaniform, capsular, vaulted, arched.