columella

C3O1L1U1M3E1L1L1A1
/ˌkɒləˈmɛlə/

noun

Any of various small structures in plants or animals that are columnar in shape.

OriginLatin columella →
RareScrabble 13
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Meanings

nouncolumella (plural columellas or columellae)

plural columellas · plural columellae

  1. biologyAny of various small structures in plants or animals that are columnar in shape.
  2. anatomyThe skin at the end of the septum which separates the nostrils.
  3. comparativeanatomyIn birds, reptiles, and amphibians, the small bone which carries vibration from the tympanum to the inner ear.
  4. biologyIn gastropods, the structure that extends down the middle of the whorls of the shell.
  5. coral scienceThe structure at the center of the calyx where the septa join together.
  6. biologyThe central sterile portion of the sporangium in various fungi.
  7. biologyA rod-shaped reinforcing element of the sexine layer of a pollen grain.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
bacule

Origin

  1. Latincolumella“small column”
  2. Englishcolumella

From Latin columella (“small column”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish kolumella, kolumella
  • kolumellaany of various small structures in plants or animals
  • kolumellaskin at the end of the septum
  • keskipatsascentral sterile portion of the sporangium
  • kolumellacentral sterile portion of the sporangium
French columelle
  • columelleany of various small structures in plants or animals
Romanian columelă, columelă
  • columelăany of various small structures in plants or animals
  • columelăskin at the end of the septum
  • columelăcentral sterile portion of the sporangium
Spanish columela, columela
  • columelaany of various small structures in plants or animals
  • columelaskin at the end of the septum
  • columelacentral sterile portion of the sporangium

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with columella

VenezuelaumbrellaBellaEllasalmonellamozzarellafellahellarubellaGabriellanovellaCoachellavaricellashigellapaellachlorellacandelabrucellanigellaAdelacitronellacellaklebsiellatarantella
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

columella. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/columella

MLA

“columella.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/columella. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “columella,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/columella.

Source: columella on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.