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cuniculus

cuniculus

1 9.9
An underground tunnel that carries water into a place or a small tube in the body
  • noun
  • /kjuːˈnɪkələs/
  • Specialized
: cunículo
  • Cuniculus.

Examples

  • The ancient engineers constructed a cuniculus to bring fresh water into the city.

  • Archaeologists discovered a hidden cuniculus beneath the ruins of the old settlement.

  • In anatomy, a cuniculus can refer to a small channel or duct within the body.

Synonyms

tunnel
vscuniculus
628 1.0

An underground passage for cars, trains, or people to travel through

is used mainly for carrying water or as an anatomical route not transport
underground tunnel
vscuniculus
10 3.2

A passage built under the ground for people or vehicles to pass through

is focused on water supply or anatomical passages rather than transport
culvert
vscuniculus
  • Specialized
9 6.8

A pipe under a road or railway that lets water flow

is a subterranean passage built for water supply or in anatomy

Compounds

Oryctolagus cuniculus
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A rabbit originally from Europe and North Africa that lives in burrows and is often kept as a pet

Surface Forms

cuniculus singular
cuniculi plural

Etymology

Cuniculus comes from the Latin cuniculus meaning 'rabbit', because rabbits make small underground burrows and people used the same word for similar tunnels they dug to carry water. So cuniculus now means an underground tunnel or a small channel in the body.