How Do You Spell EXTRORSAL?

1. Extrorsal, an adjective derived from the Latin word "extrorsus," is a term used to describe the orientation or direction of a certain external feature or structure on an organism or object. It specifically refers to something that is located, situated, or facing outward or away from the center or main axis of an entity.

   In biology, extrorsal is commonly used to describe the outward-facing parts of plants and their organs, such as leaves or flowers. For instance, the orientation of petals on a flower or the arrangement of leaves on a stem may be referred to as extrorsal if they are positioned away from the center or axis of the plant or stem.

   The term extrorsal can also find application in other fields beyond biology. In architecture and design, for example, it could describe the external or outward-facing parts of a building or structure. Similarly, in engineering, it might refer to exterior features or mechanisms that are facing outward or away from the core of a machine or device.

   Overall, extrorsal is a word utilized to denote the external-facing or outward-oriented characteristics or aspects of an entity. Whether describing an organism, an object, or even physical structures, it highlights the outward direction or orientation away from the center or core of the subject in question.

2. In bot., applied to anthers in which the slit through which the pollen escapes is towards the outside of the flower, and not, as usual, towards the pistil.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for EXTRORSAL

The word "extrorsal" is a relatively rare term used in the field of biology, particularly in botany. Its etymology can be broken down as follows:

1. "Extra-" is a prefix that originates from Latin, meaning "outside" or "beyond". It often indicates "beyond the normal" or "additional to".

2. The second part, "-orsi", comes from the Latin word "oorsus", meaning "turned or inclined". It suggests a sense of direction or orientation.

Combining the two parts, "extrorsal" can be understood to mean "turned or directed outward" or "inclined outwardly". In biological terminology, it describes a feature or structure that faces or points outward.