Word Study
foramen
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun foramen has 1 sense
- foramen(n = noun.body) hiatus - a natural opening or perforation through a bone or a membranous structure; Array has particulars: foramen of monro, interventricular foramen, monro's foramen, foramen magnum
is a kind of gap, opening
CIDE DICTIONARY
foramen, n. [L., fr. forare to bore, pierce.].
A small opening, perforation, or orifice; a fenestra. [1913 Webster]
Foramen of Monro (Anat.), the opening from each lateral into the third ventricle of the brain. -- Foramen of Winslow (Anat.), the opening connecting the sac of the omentum with the general cavity of the peritoneum.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
foramen, n. (pl. foramina) Anat. an opening, hole, or passage, esp. in a bone.
Derivative
foraminate adj.
Etymology
L foramen -minis f. forare bore a hole
ROGET THESAURUS
foramen
Opening
N opening, hole, foramen, puncture, perforation, fontanel, transforation, pinhole, keyhole, loophole, porthole, peephole, mousehole, pigeonhole, eye of a needle, eyelet, slot, opening, aperture, apertness, hiation, yawning, oscitancy, dehiscence, patefaction, pandiculation, chasm, embrasure, window, casement, abatjour, light, sky light, fan light, lattice, bay window, bow window, oriel, dormer, lantern, outlet, inlet, vent, vomitory, embouchure, orifice, mouth, sucker, muzzle, throat, gullet, weasand, wizen, nozzle, placket, portal, porch, gate, ostiary, postern, wicket, trapdoor, hatch, door, arcade, cellarway, driveway, gateway, doorway, hatchway, gangway, lich gate, way, path, thoroughfare, channel, passage, passageway, tube, pipe, water pipe, air pipe, vessel, tubule, canal, gut, fistula, adjutage, ajutage, ostium, smokestack, chimney, flue, tap, funnel, gully, tunnel, main, mine, pit, adit, shaft, gallery, alley, aisle, glade, vista, bore, caliber, pore, blind orifice, fulgurite, thundertube, porousness, porosity, sieve, cullender, colander, cribble, riddle, screen, honeycomb, apertion, perforation, piercing, terebration, empalement, pertusion, puncture, acupuncture, penetration, key, opener, master key, password, combination, passe- partout, open, perforated, perforate, wide open, ajar, unclosed, unstopped, oscitant, gaping, yawning, patent, tubular, cannular, fistulous, pervious, permeable, foraminous, vesicular, vasicular, porous, follicular, cribriform, honeycombed, infundibular, riddled, tubulous, tubulated, piped, tubate, opening, aperient, Int, open sesame!.
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