proboscis

noun pro·bos·cis \prə-ˈbä-səs, -ˈbäs-kəs\

biology : the long, thin nose of some animals (such as an elephant)

biology : a long, thin tube that forms part of the mouth of some insects (such as a butterfly)

: a person's nose especially when it is very long or big

plural pro·bos·cis·es also pro·bos·ci·des\-ˈbä-sə-ˌdēz\

Full Definition of PROBOSCIS

a : the trunk of an elephant; also : any long flexible snout

b : the human nose especially when prominent

: any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region of an invertebrate

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Illustration of PROBOSCIS

Origin of PROBOSCIS

Latin, from Greek proboskis, from pro- + boskein to feed

First Known Use: 1609

Related to PROBOSCIS

Synonyms: beak, conk [chiefly British slang], honker [slang], neb, nozzle [slang], nose, schnoz (or schnozz) [slang], schnozzle [slang], smeller, snoot, snout

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, vespine

Rhymes with PROBOSCIS

colossus, due process, word process

PROBOSCIS Defined for Kids

proboscis

noun pro·bos·cis \prə-ˈbä-səs, -ˈbäs-kəs\

Definition of PROBOSCIS for Kids

: a long flexible hollow body part (as the trunk of an elephant)

Medical Dictionary

proboscis

noun pro·bos·cis \prə-ˈbäs-əs, -kəs\

plural pro·bos·cis·es also pro·bos·ci·des \-ˈbäs-ə-ˌdēz\

Medical Definition of PROBOSCIS

: any of various elongated or extensible tubular organs or processes especially of the oral region of an invertebrate: as a : a sucking organ of insects (as houseflies or mosquitoes) that is often also adapted for piercing b : one of the complex protrusible holdfasts on the scolex of certain tapeworms