First Known Use: 1702
Dictionary
alveolus
noun al·ve·o·lus \al-ˈvē-ə-ləs\
plural al·ve·o·li\-ˌlī, -(ˌ)lē\
Definition of ALVEOLUS
1
: a small cavity or pit: as a : a socket in the jaw for a tooth b : a small air-containing compartment of the lungs in which the bronchioles terminate and from which respiratory gases are exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries c : an acinus of a compound gland d : a cell of a honeycomb
2
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Origin of ALVEOLUS
New Latin, from Latin, diminutive of alveus cavity, hollow, from alvus belly, beehive; akin to Lithuanian aulys beehive, Greek aulos tube, flute
Medical Dictionary
alveolus
noun al·ve·o·lus \al-ˈvē-ə-ləs\
plural al·ve·o·li \-ˌlī, -(ˌ)lē\
Medical Definition of ALVEOLUS
: a small cavity or pit: as a : a socket in the jaw for a tooth b : any of the small thin-walled air-containing compartments of the lung that are typically arranged in saclike clusters into which an alveolar duct terminates and from which respiratory gases are exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries c : an acinus of a compound gland d : any of the pits in the wall of the stomach into which the glands open
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