Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Patella

‖

Pa-tel′la

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Patellæ
(#)
.
[L., a small pan, the kneepan, dim. of
patina
,
patena
, a pan, dish.]
1.
A small dish, pan, or vase.
2.
(Anat.)
The kneecap; the kneepan; the cap of the knee.
3.
(Zool.)
A genus of marine gastropods, including many species of limpets. The shell has the form of a flattened cone. The common European limpet (
Patella vulgata
) is largely used for food.
4.
(Bot.)
A kind of apothecium in lichens, which is orbicular, flat, and sessile, and has a special rim not a part of the thallus.

Definition 2024

Patella

Patella

See also: patella and patel·la

Translingual

Patella vulgata
2 in view normally seen, one removed from the rock and turned over

Proper noun

Patella f

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Patellidae – many limpets.

Hypernyms

Hyponyms

patella

patella

See also: Patella and patel·la

English

A diagram of a front view of the knee, showing the patella at centre

Noun

patella ‎(plural patellas or patellae)

  1. (anatomy) The sesamoid bone of the knee; the kneecap.
    • 2004, Ann Seranne, The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog, page 188,
      Subluxed patellas, more commonly referred to as slipped stifles, like all inherited factors will continue to cripple a breed as long as breeders continue to mate affected animals.
    • 2005, Roger E. Stevenson, 20: Limbs, Roger E. Stevenson, Judith G. Hall, Human Malformations and Related Anomalies, page 920,
      Since patella diameter is a feature of continuous variation, the majority of small patellas represent simply the lower extreme of normal anatomic variation.
    • 2006, Erik Trinkaus, 18: The Lower Limb Remains, Erik Trinkaus, Jiří Svoboda (editors), Early Modern Human Evolution in Central Europe, page 395,
      Both patellae are well preserved for Dolni Věstonice 3 and 13-15, and the left patella remains for Dolni Věstonice 16 (Figures 18.22 to 18.26).
    • 2009, P. Tohomson, 14: Assessment of the paediatric patient, Ben Yates (editor), Merriman's Assessment of the Lower Limb, page 401,
      The patellae may be up to 30° externally rotated at birth. In young children it is considered normal for the patellae to be externally rotated, but by 5 years of age the patellae should face forwards.

Synonyms

Translations

Derived terms

Italian

Noun

patella f ‎(plural patelle)

  1. (anatomy) patella, kneecap, rotula
  2. (mollusk) limpet

Derived terms

Latin

Etymology

Diminutive of patina ‎(“a broad shallow dish, pan”) or patera.

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /paˈtel.la/, [paˈtɛl.la]

Noun

patella f ‎(genitive patellae); first declension

  1. a small or shallow pan or dish
  2. the kneecap, patella
  3. a disease of the olive tree

Inflection

First declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative patella patellae
genitive patellae patellārum
dative patellae patellīs
accusative patellam patellās
ablative patellā patellīs
vocative patella patellae

Descendants

References

Etymology

From Latin patella ‎(“a small pan or dish, a plate; the kneecap, patella”), diminutive of patina ‎(“a broad shallow dish, pan”), from pateo

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