WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ret•i•nac•u•lum
(ret′n ak′yə ləm),USA pronunciation n., pl. -la (-lə).USA pronunciation
- Anatomy, Zoologyany of various small structures that hook, clasp, or bind other structures to move them or hold them in place.
- Anatomy, Insects[Entomol.]a bristle on the butterfly forewing that clasps to the frenulum of the hindwing.
- Neo-Latin; Latin retināculum tether, rope which holds fast or restrains, equivalent. to retin(ēre) to hold fast, retain + -ā- (from verb, verbal stems ending in -ā-; compare gubernaculum) + -culum -cule2
- 1815–25