speculum

noun — 4 senses

speculum

noun

UK /ˈspɛk.jʊ.ləm/ · US, UK /ˈspɛk.jə.ləm/

Etymology Learned borrowing from Latin speculum.

1

Medicine, Sciences A medical instrument used during an examination to dilate an orifice.

2

A mirror, especially one used in a telescope.

3

Biology, Natural sciences, Ornithology A bright, lustrous patch of colour found on the wings of ducks and some other birds, usually situated on the distal portions of the secondary quills, and much more brilliant in the adult male than in the female.

4

A lookout place.

Derived terms
speculum metal
Related terms
speculum literature

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.