rotula

noun

rot·​u·​la

ˈrächələ

plural rotulas

-ləz

or rotulae

-ˌlē

1

: patella sense 2a

2

: one of the five radial pieces intervening between the alveoli and extending inward toward the esophagus in the Aristotle's lantern of a sea urchin

3

: troche

rotular

-lə(r)

adjective

rotulian

räˈtülēən

rä‧ˈtyü-

räˈchü-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

in sense 1, from Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, little wheel; in other senses, from New Latin, from Latin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!