apteria
|ap-te-ri-a|
/æpˈtɪəriə/
(apterium)
wingless / bare area
Etymology
'apteria' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apteron', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'pteron' meant 'wing'.
'apteron' passed into New Latin/Scientific Latin as 'apterium' (singular) and 'apteria' (plural), and was later adopted into English scientific usage to refer to featherless or wingless areas.
Initially, it meant 'wingless' or 'without wings' in Greek anatomical usage; over time it came to be used in English scientific contexts to denote 'featherless or wingless areas' (e.g., on birds or insects).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
(ornithology) The featherless spaces on a bird's skin between the feather tracts (pterylae).
The apteria along the bird's flanks were clearly visible.
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Noun 2
(entomology / general zoology, less common) Areas of an animal's body that do not bear wings or wing-bearing structures; used in specialized anatomical descriptions.
In some species, apteria occur where wings are absent or reduced.
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Last updated: 2025/09/28 20:18