lacuna

views updated Jun 08 2018

la·cu·na / ləˈk(y)oōnə/ • n. (pl. -nae / -nī; -nē/ or -nas) an unfilled space or interval; a gap: the journal has filled a lacuna in Middle Eastern studies. ∎  a missing portion in a book or manuscript. ∎  Anat. a cavity or depression, esp. in bone.DERIVATIVES: la·cu·nal / ləˈk(y)oōnl/ adj. lac·u·nar·y / ˈlakyəˌnerē; ləˈk(y)oōnərē/ adj.la·cu·nate / -ˌnāt; -nit; ˈlakyəˌnāt/ adj. la·cu·nose / ˈlakyəˌnōs; -ˌnōz/ adj.ORIGIN: mid 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘pool,’ from lacus ‘lake.’

lacuna

views updated May 29 2018

lacuna (pl. lacunae). Literally a gap, applied to a Classical coffer in a ceiling, cornice-soffit, or any flat, level horizontal underside, a coffer under a cupola being a caisson. Lacunae are often elaborately ornamented with egg-and-dart, bead-and-reel, etc., and laquear is used to express the effect of mouldings separating the margins of panels in coffering.

lacuna

views updated Jun 11 2018

lacuna A gap between cells, often filled with air. See LEAF GAP; compare LUMEN.

lacuna

views updated Jun 08 2018

lacuna XVII. — L. lacūna pool, cavity, f. lacus LAKE1.

lacuna

views updated May 29 2018

lacuna an unfilled space or interval; a gap; a missing portion in a book or manuscript. The word comes (in the mid 17th century) from Latin, ‘pool’, from lacus ‘lake’.

lacuna

views updated May 18 2018

lacuna A gap or cavity in the tissues of an organism; for example, the hollow centre of certain plant stems or any of the small cavities in bone in which the bone-forming cells are found.

lacuna

views updated May 14 2018

lacuna (lă-kew-nă) n. (pl. lacunae) (in anatomy) a small cavity or depression.