lunule

Lu"nule, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. lunula, dim. of luna moon.] 1. (Anat.) Defn: Anything crescent-shaped; a crescent-shaped part or mark; a lunula, a lune. 2. (Chem.) Defn: A lune. See Lune. 3. (Zoöl.) (a) A small or narrow crescent. (b) A special area in front of the beak of many bivalve shells. It sometimes has the shape of a double crescent, but is oftener heart- shaped. See Illust. of Bivalve.

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