Definition of Speculum

1. Noun. A mirror (especially one made of polished metal) for use in an optical instrument.

Generic synonyms: Mirror

2. Noun. A medical instrument for dilating a bodily passage or cavity in order to examine the interior.
Generic synonyms: Medical Instrument

Definition of Speculum

1. n. A mirror, or looking-glass; especially, a metal mirror, as in Greek and Roman archæology.

Definition of Speculum

1. Noun. (medicine) A medical instrument used during an examination to dilate an orifice. ¹

2. Noun. A mirror. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Speculum

1. a medical instrument [n -LA or -LUMS] : SPECULAR [adj]

Medical Definition of Speculum

1. Origin: L, fr. Specere to look, behold. See Spy. 1. A mirror, or looking-glass; especially, a metal mirror, as in Greek and Roman archaeology. 2. A reflector of polished metal, especially one used in reflecting telescopes. See Speculum metal, below. 3. An instrument for dilating certain passages of the body, and throwing light within them, thus facilitating examination or surgical operations. 4. A bright and lustrous patch of colour found on the wings of ducks and some other birds. It is usually situated on the distal portions of the secondary quills, and is much more brilliant in the adult male than in the female. Speculum metal, a hard, brittle alloy used for making the reflectors of telescopes and other instruments, usually consisting of copper and tin in various proportions, one of the best being that in which there are 126.4 parts of copper to 58.9 parts of tin, with sometimes a small proportion of arsenic, antimony, or zinc added to improve the whiteness. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Speculum

speculative damages
speculative fiction
speculative fictions
speculative philosophies
speculative philosophy
speculatively
speculativeness
speculativity
speculator
speculatorial
speculators
speculatory
speculist
speculists
speculoos
speculum (current term)
speculum forceps
speculums
sped
spede
spee
speech
speech-endowed
speech-language pathology
speech-read
speech acoustics
speech act
speech acts
speech articulation tests
speech audiogram

Other Resources:

Search for Speculum on Dictionary.com!Search for Speculum on Thesaurus.com!Search for Speculum on Google!Search for Speculum on Wikipedia!

Search