alveolus

English

Etymology

From Latin alveolus, a diminutive of alveus (“a tray, trough, basin”), from alvus (“the belly, the stomach, bowels, womb, etc.”).

Noun

alveolus (plural alveoli)

1. A small cavity or pit.
2. (anatomy) an anatomical structure that has the form of a hollow cavity
3. (anatomy) a small air sac in the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the blood.

Synonyms

• (air sac in lung): pulmonary alveolus

Derived terms

• alveolar
• alveolate
• dental alveolus (syn. tooth socket)

Translations

anatomical structure that has the form of a hollow cavity

Croatian: alveola (hr) f.

small air sac in the lungs

Bulgarian: алвеола (bg) (alveóla) f. Croatian: alveola (hr) f.

Czech: plicní sklípek (cs) m.

See also

• Alveolus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Pulmonary alveolus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia:Pulmonary alveolus

References

• alveolus in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• alveolus in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• alveolus at OneLook Dictionary Search

---

Latin

Etymology

alveus +‎ -ulus

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA: /al.we.ˈo.lus/
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA: /al.ve.ˈo.lus/

Noun

alveolus (genitive alveolī); m, second declension

1. small hollow or cavity
2. tray, trough, basin
3. gaming board

Inflection

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	alveolus	alveolī
genitive	alveolī	alveolōrum
dative	alveolō	alveolīs
accusative	alveolum	alveolōs
ablative	alveolō	alveolīs
vocative	alveole	alveolī

Related terms

• alveus

Descendants

• Russian: альвео́ла (al'veóla)

References

alveolus in D. P. Simpson, Cassell's Latin Dictionary, Wiley Publishing, 1968