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stoma

Syllabification: (sto·ma)
Pronunciation: /ˈstōmə/
Definition of stoma

noun (plural stomas or stomata /-mətə, ˌstōˈmätə/)

Botany
  • any of the minute pores in the epidermis of the leaf or stem of a plant, forming a slit of variable width that allows movement of gases in and out of the intercellular spaces. Also called stomate.
  • Zoology a small mouthlike opening in some lower animals.
  • Medicine an artificial opening made into a hollow organ, especially one on the surface of the body leading to the gut or trachea.

Derivatives

stomal

adjective
( Medicine)

Origin:

late 17th century: modern Latin, from Greek stoma 'mouth'

stoma in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of stoma in the British & World English dictionary