Peduncle

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Peduncle \Pe*dun"cle\, n. [Formed fr. (assumed) L. pedunculus,
     dim. of pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. p['e]doncule.]
     1. (Bot.) The stem or stalk that supports the flower or fruit
        of a plant, or a cluster of flowers or fruits.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     Note: The ultimate divisions or branches of a peduncle are
           called pedicels. In the case of a solitary flower, the
           stalk would be called a peduncle if the flower is
           large, and a pedicel if it is small or delicate.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A sort of stem by which certain shells and
        barnacles are attached to other objects. See Illust. of
        {Barnacle}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Anat.) A band of nervous or fibrous matter connecting
        different parts of the brain; as, the peduncles of the
        cerebellum; the peduncles of the pineal gland.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  peduncle
       n 1: the thin process of tissue that attaches a polyp to the body
       2: stalk bearing an inflorescence or solitary flower
       3: a bundle of myelinated neurons joining different parts of
          the brain [syn: {cerebral peduncle}]