flocculus

noun

floc·​cu·​lus ˈflä-kyə-ləs 

plural flocculi ˈflä-kyə-ˌlī  -ˌlē 

1

: a small loosely aggregated mass

2

: a bright or dark patch on the sun

Examples of flocculus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This dinosaur had a very small flocculus, a part of the brain key to eye fixation when the head, neck or body is in motion -- especially when targeting competitors or predators. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, diminutive of Latin floccus tuft of wool

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

flocculus

noun

floc·​cu·​lus -ləs 

plural flocculi -ˌlī  -ˌlē 

: a small irregular lobe on the undersurface of each hemisphere of the cerebellum that is linked with the corresponding side of the nodulus by a peduncle