‖n. [ L. ferula giant fennel (its stalks were used in punishing schoolboys), rod, whip, fr. ferire to strike; akin to OHG. berjan, Icel. berja. Cf. Ferule. ] 1. A ferule. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The imperial scepter in the Byzantine or Eastern Empire. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ capitalized ] A genus of plants of the parsley family Apiaceae (of the order Umbelliferae), including some yielding asafetida. Members include Ferula asafoetida (Ferula foetida), the giant fennel (Ferula communis), and Ferula orientalis. [ PJC ]

a. [ L. ferulaceus, fr. ferula rod: cf. F. férulacé. ] Pertaining to reeds and canes; having a stalk like a reed; as, ferulaceous plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A ferule. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Gastrulæ ety>[ NL., dim. fr. Gr. &unr_; the stomach. ] (Biol.) An embryonic form having its origin in the invagination or pushing in of the wall of the planula or blastula (the blastosphere) on one side, thus giving rise to a double-walled sac, with one opening or mouth (the blastopore) which leads into the cavity (the archenteron) lined by the inner wall (the hypoblast). See Illust. under Invagination. In a more general sense, an ideal stage in embryonic development. See Gastræa. -- a. Of or pertaining to a gastrula. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) The process of invagination, in embryonic development, by which a gastrula is formed. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., dim. of moner. See Monera. ] (Biol.) A germ in that stage of development in which its form is simply that of a non-nucleated mass of protoplasm. It precedes the one-celled germ. So called from its likeness to a moner. Haeckel. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Morulae [ NL., dim. of L. morum a mulberry. ] (Biol.) The sphere or globular mass of cells (blastomeres), formed by the clevage of the ovum or egg in the first stages of its development; -- called also mulberry mass, segmentation sphere, and blastosphere. See Segmentation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) The process of cleavage, or segmentation, of the ovum, by which a morula is formed. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., dim. of Gr. ney^ron a nerve. ] (Zool.) An embryo of certain invertebrates in the stage when the primitive band is first developed. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. The type genus of the Parulidae: wood warblers.
Syn. -- genus Parula. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n.; pl. Perulæ [ L., dim. of pera wallet, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. pérule. ] 1. (Bot.) One of the scales of a leaf bud. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A pouchlike portion of the perianth in certain orchides. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. L. pyrus a pear. ] (Zool.) A genus of large marine gastropods having a pear-shaped shell. It includes the fig-shells. See Illust. in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be ruled; subject to rule; accordant or conformable to rule. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., a little saw. ] (Zool.) The red-breasted merganser. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. serrula a little saw, dim. of serra a saw. ] Finely serrate; having very minute teeth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state of being notched minutely, like a fine saw. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of the teeth in a serrulate margin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Covered or set with spherules; having one or more rows of spherules, or minute tubercles. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having spines arranged spirally. See Spicule. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., dim. of L. spira a coil. ] (Zool.) A genus of cephalopods having a multilocular, internal, siphunculated shell in the form of a flat spiral, the coils of which are not in contact. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Having the color spots, or structural parts, arranged spirally. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) The act or process of forming spores; spore formation. See Illust. of Bacillus, (b). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Torulae /plu> [ NL., dim. of L. torus a semicircular molding. ] (Biol.) (a) A chain of special bacteria. (b) A genus of budding fungi. Same as Saccharomyces. Also used adjectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) Having the appearance of a torula; in the form of a little chain; as, a torulaform string of micrococci. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. A cross between a male zebra and a female horse. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]