labellum

English

Etymology

From Latin labellum (small lip), diminutive of labrum (lip).

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ləˈbɛl.əm/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛləm

Noun

labellum (plural labella or labellums)

  1. The lower central petal of a flower (especially an orchid), usually developed to be showy and attract pollinators.
  2. (entomology) Part of the mouth of an insect, especially the sucking mouthparts of a fly.

Synonyms

Translations

Latin

Etymology 1

From labrum (lip) +‎ -lum (diminutive suffix).

Pronunciation

Noun

labellum n (genitive labellī); second declension

  1. a (little) lip
    • c. 84 BCE – 54 BCE, Catullus, Carmina 64:
      laneaque aridulis haerebant morsa labellis
      and woolen bits clung to dry lips
Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

singular plural
nominative labellum labella
genitive labellī labellōrum
dative labellō labellīs
accusative labellum labella
ablative labellō labellīs
vocative labellum labella
Descendants
  • English: labellum
  • Italian: labello

Etymology 2

From lābrum (basin) +‎ -lum (diminutive suffix).

Pronunciation

Noun

lābellum n (genitive lābellī); second declension

  1. a (small) bowl, basin
Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

Descendants

References

  • labellum”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • labellum”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • "labellum", in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
  • labellum in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.