Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In anatomy and zoology: Same as
patella , 2. - noun One of the five radial pieces entering into the composition of the dentary apparatus of a sea-urchin, serving to connect the epiphyses of each of the five alveoli, and to furnish an articulation for each of the five radii or compasses. See
lantern of Aristotle (under lantern), and cut underClypeastridæ - noun A small hard nodule embedded in soft parts of other echinoderms, as the calcareous rotulæ of some holothurians (Chirodotæ).
- noun [capitalized] [NL.] A genus of flat rotiform sea-urchins of the family Mellitidæ, having the test perforate and digitate.
- noun In music, a little rota or round; especially, a carol or song for Christmas.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Anat.) The patella, or kneepan.
Etymologies
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Examples
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On the edges of rivers semi-aquatic species, such as Rotula aquatica, Hygrophila odora, Cyperus baikiei, occur and annuals, which disappear when the water level rises, are found in the periodically-flooded sands.
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Observations, made in St. John's College, iii 639; at Leicester, ib. — — — — Rotula invented, ii 423.
Literary anecdotes of the eighteenth century; comprizing biographical memoirs of William Bowyer, printer, F. S. A. Bentley, Samuel, 1785-1868. [from old catalog] 1812
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