proboscis
proboscides; proboscises
Proboscis is the scientific term for certain mammals' noses, especially long and flexible ones such as an elephant's trunk or a tapir's snout. If someone calls your nose a proboscis, they mean you've got a pretty big 'un.
Proboscis comes from the Greek word for an elephant's trunk, proboskis, which translates as "means for taking food." Not to get too technical, but flies and other insects also have a proboscis, though if you ever end up on "Jeopardy!" it's worth knowing that they are not in fact true noses but actually part of their mouths. So there.
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a long flexible snout as of an elephant
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the human nose (especially when it is large)
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type of:
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nose, olfactory organ
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
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nose, olfactory organ
Vocabulary lists containing proboscis
Summer is a twelve-year-old Japanese-American girl who learns more about her family, her heritage, and herself during a harvest season filled with bad luck.
In 29 essays, physician, etymologist, poet, educator, and researcher Lewis Thomas covers a range of topics to illustrate his theme that all living things, including the Earth itself, are interconnected and interdependent.
During the Gold Rush, twelve-year-old Jack journeys to California in hopes of striking it rich.
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