Peristome
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 One or two rings of tooth-like appendages surrounding the opening of the capsule of many mosses.
"Its removal does not, however, leave the mouth of the capsule wide open, for around the margin are two circles of pointed teeth forming the peristome."
- 2 region around the mouth in various invertebrates wordnet
- 3 The parts of or surrounding the mouths of numerous invertebrates.
"We can distinguish therefore in the body of a polyp the column, circular or oval in section, forming the trunk, resting on a base or foot and surmounted by the crown of tentacles, which enclose an area termed the peristome, in the centre of which again is the mouth. […] The mouth may be level with the surface of the peristome, or may be projecting and trumpet-shaped."
- 4 (botany) fringe of toothlike appendages surrounding the mouth of a moss capsule wordnet
- 5 The lip, or edge of the aperture, of a spiral shell.
Example
More examples"Its removal does not, however, leave the mouth of the capsule wide open, for around the margin are two circles of pointed teeth forming the peristome."
Etymology
From peri- + -stome.
More for "peristome"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.