caruncula

9.9

A small soft growth on animals and plants, like a bird's wattle or a seed base

noun
/kəˈrʌŋkjələ/

Specialized

: carúncula

The turkey's caruncula became more prominent during mating season.

Examples

Botanists observed a bright red caruncula at the base of the seed.
The chicken has a bright red caruncula.
Some birds have a noticeable caruncula on their heads.
Some birds have multiple carunculas.
Botanists observed a bright red caruncula at the base of the seed.
The turkey's caruncula became more prominent during mating season.
Some birds have a noticeable caruncula on their heads.

Synonyms

outgrowth

vscaruncula

Specialized

1 6.0

A piece that sticks out from a living thing, for example a shoot or bony lump

is a small fleshy protuberance rather than any general projection

enation

vscaruncula

Specialized

1 9.9

A small natural growth on a plant surface like a tiny leaf

is used for small fleshy protuberances not thin leaflike plant parts

caruncle

vscaruncula

Specialized

1 9.9

A small soft growth on a bird or on a seed, like a turkey's wattle

is identical in sense but is an alternative form or name

Surface Forms

caruncula singular

carunculas plural

carunculae plural

Etymology

Caruncula comes from the Latin caro meaning 'flesh' plus a small ending -cula meaning 'little', so it originally meant 'little flesh'. That's why caruncula is used for a small, fleshy outgrowth on birds or near a seed, and you can remember caro by thinking of English carnivore ('meat eater').