stoma

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: sto=ma

CIDE DICTIONARY

stoma, n. [NL., fr. Gr. , , a mouth.].

•  One of the minute apertures between the cells in many serous membranes.  [1913 Webster]
•  The minute breathing pores of leaves or other organs opening into the intercellular spaces, and usually bordered by two contractile cells.  [1913 Webster]
•  A stigma. See Stigma, n., 6 (a) & (b).  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

stoma, n. (pl. stomas or stomata)
1 Bot. a minute pore in the epidermis of a leaf.
2 a Zool. a small mouthlike opening in some lower animals. b Surgery a similar artificial orifice made in the stomach.

Derivative

stomal adj.

Etymology

mod.L f. Gk stoma -atos mouth