caruncle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small fleshy outgrowth forming a normal part of an animal, such as a bird's wattle or a growth near the eye

   The male bird's red caruncle enlarged and brightened during courtship.

2. 2
   noun

   the small pink prominence at the inner corner of the human eye

   A tear collected beside the lacrimal caruncle.

3. 3
   noun

   botany: a fleshy seed appendage, often rich in oil and attractive to ants

   An ant carried the seed away by gripping its pale caruncle.

Borrowed through French caruncule from Latin caruncula ("a small piece of flesh"), a diminutive of caro ("flesh"). Zoology, anatomy, and botany use the word for small fleshy-looking projections.

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