lacuna

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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.’

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