- nictitating membrane
- noun Date: 1713 a thin membrane found in many vertebrates at the inner angle or beneath the lower lid of the eye and capable of extending across the eyeball
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
nictitating membrane
Look at other dictionaries:
nictitating membrane — n a thin membrane found in many vertebrate animals at the inner angle or beneath the lower lid of the eye and capable of extending across the eyeball called also membrana nictitans, third eyelid * * * a transparent fold of skin lying deep to the… … Medical dictionary
nictitating membrane — n. a transparent third eyelid hinged at the inner side or lower lid of the eye of various animals, serving to keep the eye clean and moist: it is vestigial in humans … English World dictionary
Nictitating membrane — The nictitating membrane of a Masked Lapwing as it closes. The nictitating membrane (from Latin nictare, to blink) is a transparent or translucent third eyelid present in some animals that can be drawn across the eye for protection and to moisten … Wikipedia
Nictitating membrane — Nictitate Nic ti*tate, v. i. [See {Nictate}.] To wink; to nictate. [1913 Webster] {Nictitating membrane} (Anat.), a thin membrane, found in many animals at the inner angle, or beneath the lower lid, of the eye, and capable of being drawn across… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
nictitating membrane — noun Zoology a whitish membrane forming an inner eyelid in birds, reptiles, and some mammals. Origin C18: nictitating based on med. L. nictitat blinked , frequentative of nictare … English new terms dictionary
nictitating membrane — a membrane at the front of the eye which can be pulled over the whole eye, e.g. in some Selachii … Dictionary of ichthyology
nictitating membrane — a thin membrane, or inner or third eyelid, present in many animals, capable of being drawn across the eyeball, as for protection. [1705 15; NICTATE + ING2] * * * … Universalium
nictitating membrane — nic′titating mem′brane n. zool. a thin membrane, present in many animals, that can be drawn across the eyeball for protection • Etymology: 1705–15 … From formal English to slang
nictitating membrane — /ˌnɪktəteɪtɪŋ ˈmɛmbreɪn/ (say .niktuhtayting membrayn) noun a thin membrane, or inner third eyelid, present in many animals, capable of being drawn across the eyeball, as for protection …
nictitating membrane — noun a transparent protective fold of skin acting as an inner eyelid in birds, reptiles and some mammals … Wiktionary
