| proboscidifera | 1. <zoology> An extensive division of pectinibranchiate gastropods, including those that have a long retractile proboscis, with the mouth at the end, as the cones, whelks, tritons, and cowries. 2. <zoology> A subdivision of the taenioglossate gastropods, including the fig-shells (Pyrula), the helmet shells (Cassis), the tritons, and allied genera. Origin: NL. See Proboscis, and -ferous. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| proboscis | 1. <zoology> A hollow organ or tube attached to the head, or connected with the mouth, of various animals, and generally used in taking food or drink; a snout; a trunk. The proboscis of an elephant is a flexible muscular elongation of the nose. The proboscis of insects is usually a chitinous tube formed by the modified maxillae, or by the labium. 2. <zoology> By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded. The proboscis of annelids and of mollusks is usually a portion of the pharynx that can be everted or protruded. That of nemerteans is a special long internal organ, not connected with the mouth, and not used in feeding, but capable of being protruded from a pore in the head. 3. The nose. Proboscis monkey. Origin: L. Fr. Gr.; before + to feed, graze. (19 Mar 1998) |
| probract | Small, leaf-like structure at the base of an inflorescence in members of the cucumber family (Curcurbitaceae), usually arising opposite a tendril. (09 Oct 1997) |
| Probstymayria vivipara | A nematode (family Atractidae) closely related to the true pinworms (family Oxyuridae) and still commonly considered the horse pinworm; it is distributed worldwide and is found often in tremendous numbers, because of internal autoreinfection, in the colon of horses and other equids. (05 Mar 2000) |
| probucol | <chemical> A drug used in the treatment of hypercholesteraemia. It lowers total plasma cholesterol concentrations, mainly by reducing low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations. It has little effect on serum-triglyceride or very-low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations. Pharmacological action: anticholesteraemic agents. Chemical name: Phenol, 4,4'-((1-methylethylidene)bis(thio))bis(2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)- (12 Dec 1998) |