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Operculum

//oʊˈpɝ.kjə.ləm// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A covering flap in animals, such as a gill cover.

    "Hyoliths […] have a small, conical calcium carbonate shell, with a lid called an operculum."

  2. 2
    a hard flap serving as a cover for (a) the gill slits in fishes or (b) the opening of the shell in certain gastropods when the body is retracted wordnet
  3. 3
    The lidlike portion of a moss sporangium or of a fruit that detaches to allow the dispersal of spores or seeds.
  4. 4
    A gum flap covering (part of) a partially erupted tooth, usually a wisdom tooth.
  5. 5
    A structure which serves as a cover or lid.

    "I lifted the circular operculum from its place and laid it carefully on the bale."

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  1. 6
    One of several flaps of cerebral cortex covering the insula.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin operculum.

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