speculum

C2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /ˈspɛkjələm/ UK /ˈspekjələm/ See IPA manual

Freq #57910

Meanings

1

noun
a medical instrument used to hold open a body passage so that its interior can be examined

The clinician warmed the speculum before beginning the examination.
2

noun
a usually iridescent patch on the secondary wing feathers of a duck or certain other birds

The mallard flashed a blue speculum as it stretched its wings.
3

noun
a mirror or polished reflecting surface, especially one used in an optical instrument

The early telescope used a metal speculum rather than a glass mirror.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a medical instrument used... dilator

2 noun · a usually iridescent patch... wing patch

3 noun · a mirror or polished... mirror reflector

Word family

Derived forms speculaspecular

Related forms examination telescope reflection

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin speculum, mirror, from specere, to look at. The reflecting-object sense is original; medicine applied the name to instruments that expose a cavity to view, while ornithology used it for a glossy, mirrorlike wing patch.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# speculum

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈspɛkjələm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈspekjələm/
**Frequency rank:** 57910

## Meanings
1. a medical instrument used to hold open a body passage so that its interior can be examined
2. a usually iridescent patch on the secondary wing feathers of a duck or certain other birds
3. a mirror or polished reflecting surface, especially one used in an optical instrument

## Examples
- The clinician warmed the speculum before beginning the examination.
- The mallard flashed a blue speculum as it stretched its wings.
- The early telescope used a metal speculum rather than a glass mirror.

## Synonyms
- dilator
- mirror
- reflector
- wing patch

## Derived Forms
- specula
- specular

## Related Forms
- examination
- telescope
- reflection

## Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin speculum, mirror, from specere, to look at. The reflecting-object sense is original; medicine applied the name to instruments that expose a cavity to view, while ornithology used it for a glossy, mirrorlike wing patch.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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