fossa

/'fɔsə/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
fossa

A fossa climbs a tree in the forest.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A large carnivorous mammal of Madagascar: A cat-like mammal (Cryptoprocta ferox) that is the largest predator on Madagascar, with physical characteristics somewhat intermediate between cats and civets.
    • A genus of mammals: A monotypic genus (Fossa) of Madagascar civets closely related to palm civets, containing the species Fossa fossana (the Malagasy civet).
    • A pit or depression in a surface: A shallow hollow or anatomical depression, especially in a bone.
Usage Examples
  • Noun (Animal):
    • The fossa is an agile predator that hunts lemurs in the trees.
    • Scientists study the unique evolutionary path of the fossa.
  • Noun (Anatomy):
    • The olecranon fossa is a depression on the humerus bone.
    • The fossa accommodates another bone or structure, allowing for movement.
Advanced Usage
  • "Fossa ovalis": A specific anatomical depression in the heart (in the interatrial septum).
    • The fossa ovalis is a remnant of the fetal foramen ovale.
  • "Infratemporal fossa": An anatomical space below the temple.
    • The surgeon carefully dissected the tissues of the infratemporal fossa.
Variants and Related Words
  • Fossae (n): The plural form of , used primarily in anatomical contexts.
    • Several important fossae are located on the cranial base.
  • Fossorial (adj): Adapted for digging (e.g., fossorial animals). This word shares the Latin root ( meaning "ditch") but describes a different concept.
    • Moles are fossorial creatures.
Synonyms
  • Pit: A hollow or indentation, especially in a surface.
  • Depression: A sunken or hollow area.
  • Cavity: A hollow space. (Note: often implies a larger or more enclosed space than .)
Related Phrases
  • "To lodge in a fossa": (Anatomical) To fit into or be contained within a depression.
    • The condyle of the mandible lodges in the glenoid fossa.
fossa

A fossa climbs a tree in the forest.

Noun
  1. largest carnivore of Madagascar; intermediate in some respects between cats and civets
  2. monotypic genus of Madagascar civets closely related to palm civets
  3. a concavity in a surface (especially an anatomical depression)