Columella

//ˌkɒləˈmɛlə// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Any of various small structures in plants or animals that are columnar in shape.
  2. 2
    a small column (or structure resembling a column) that is a part of a plant or animal wordnet
  3. 3
    The skin at the end of the septum which separates the nostrils.
  4. 4
    In birds, reptiles, and amphibians, the small bone which carries vibration from the tympanum to the inner ear. comparative
  5. 5
    In gastropods, the structure that extends down the middle of the whorls of the shell.
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    The structure at the center of the calyx where the septa join together.
  2. 7
    The central sterile portion of the sporangium in various fungi.
  3. 8
    A rod-shaped reinforcing element of the sexine layer of a pollen grain.

Synonyms

All synonyms

Etymology

From Latin columella (“small column”).

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.