medulla

me·dul·la
M3E1D2U1L1L1A1
/məˈdʌlə//mɛˈdʌlə/US/məˈdulə/

noun

The soft inner part of something, especially the pith of a fruit.

Similar
myelinmyelinemedulla oblongatabulb
Opposite
cortex
OriginLatin medulla →
Less commonScrabble 10
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Meanings

nounmedulla (plural medullas or medullae or medullæ)

plural medullas · plural medullae · plural medullæ

  1. The soft inner part of something, especially the pith of a fruit.
  2. anatomyThe inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones.
  3. anatomyThe medulla oblongata.
  4. biologyThe internal tissue of a plant.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibers

Similar
myelinmyeline
Broader
fat

nounlower or hindmost part of the brain; continuous with spinal cord; (‘bulb’ is an old term for medulla oblongata)

Similar
medulla oblongatabulb
Broader
neural structure

nounthe inner part of an organ or structure in plant or animal

Opposite
cortex
Broader
animal tissueplant tissue
Also see
bulbmedulla oblongatamyelinpith

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinmedulla“pith, marrow”
  2. Englishmedulla

Borrowed from Latin medulla (“pith, marrow”), perhaps from medius (“middle”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian продълговат мозък, сърцевина
  • продълговат мозък (prodălgovat mozăk)the medulla oblongata
  • сърцевина (sărcevina)The internal tissue of a plant
Chinese Mandarin 髓质, 髓
  • 髓质 (suǐzhì)the inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
  • 髓 (suǐ)the inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
Esperanto medolo
  • medolothe inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
French moelle allongée
  • moelle allongéethe medulla oblongata
Hindi मज्जा, अस्थि मज्जा
  • मज्जा (majjā)the inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
  • अस्थि मज्जा (asthi majjā)the inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
  • गूदा (gūdā)the inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
Japanese 髄
  • 髄 (zui)the inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
Polish rdzeń, rdzeń przedłużony
  • rdzeńthe inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
  • rdzeń przedłużonythe medulla oblongata
  • rdzeńThe internal tissue of a plant
Russian медула, продолговатый мозг
  • медула (medula)the inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
  • продолговатый мозг (prodolgovatyj mozg)the medulla oblongata
Spanish médula, medula
  • médulathe inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
  • medulathe inner substance of various organs and structures, especially the marrow of bones
Cite this entry
APA

medulla. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/medulla

MLA

“medulla.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/medulla. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “medulla,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/medulla.

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