navicula

noun

na·​vic·​u·​la

nəˈvikyələ

1

plural -s : an incense boat

2

a

capitalized : a very large genus (the type of the family Naviculaceae) of diatoms having a lanceolate or boat-shaped usually free-floating frustule covered with minute striae

b

-s : a plant of the genus Navicula

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, small ship, diminutive of Latin navis ship; in sense 2, New Latin, from Latin

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