What does "alveolus" mean?
A small cavity or pit.; Any of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs in which the bronchioles terminate and where oxygen and carbon dioxide are rapidly exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries.
Alveolus
/ˌal.viˈəʊ.ləs/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A small cavity or pit.; Any of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs in which the bronchioles terminate and where oxygen and carbon dioxide are rapidly exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries.
- Grammar: alveolus is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: air cell, air sac, alveolar ridge, alveolation.
- Usage evidence: The sprouts proliferate and canalize to form the lactiferous ducts and the outbuddings form the alveoli of the mammary glands.
How to use "alveolus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "alveolus" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "alveolus" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "alveolus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "alveolus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "alveolus" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "air cell" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "alveolus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A small cavity or pit.; Any of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs in which the bronchioles terminate and where oxygen and carbon dioxide are rapidly exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries.
- 2 a bony socket in the alveolar ridge that holds a tooth wordnet
- 3 A small cavity or pit.; The bony socket in which the root of a tooth resides.
- 4 a tiny sac for holding air in the lungs; formed by the terminal dilation of tiny air passageways wordnet
- 5 A small cavity or pit.; An acinus (saclike cavity) in a gland.
"The sprouts proliferate and canalize to form the lactiferous ducts and the outbuddings form the alveoli of the mammary glands."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A small cavity or pit.; The socket of a macrotrichium (seta).
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The sprouts proliferate and canalize to form the lactiferous ducts and the outbuddings form the alveoli of the mammary glands."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "alveolus"?
Common synonyms include: air cell, air sac, alveolar ridge, alveolation, antrum, apex.
How do you use "alveolus" in a sentence?
The sprouts proliferate and canalize to form the lactiferous ducts and the outbuddings form the alveoli of the mammary glands.
How do you pronounce "alveolus"?
Pronounced /ˌal.viˈəʊ.ləs/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin alveolus (“a small hollow or cavity”), diminutive of alveus (“a hollow, cavity”).