Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

caruncle

/ˈkɛɹˌʌŋ.kəl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.07 in modern English

Syllables
carun-cle
IPA
/ˈkɛɹˌʌŋ.kəl/
12
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A small, fleshy excrescence that is a normal part of an animal's anatomy.

noun

Clipping of lacrimal caruncle: the red prominence at the inner corner of the eye.

noun

A colored waxy or oily outgrowth near the micropyle of some seeds, attractive to ants which aid the seed's dispersal.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French caruncule, from Latin caruncula (“a little piece of flesh”), diminutive of carō (“flesh”). Doublet of caruncula.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈkɛɹˌʌŋ.kəl/
  • British English: /ˈka.ɹəŋ.kəl/

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.

Inflected Forms

caruncles (plural)

Derived Forms

carunclectomy caruncular carunculate intercaruncle

Phrases

Santorini's minor caruncle

Frequently Paired Words

dewlap frill comb cockscomb crest snood wattle

Synonyms

elaiosome caruncula

Rhymes With

uncle dunkel

Questions

How do you pronounce caruncle?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɛɹˌʌŋ.kəl/.
What does caruncle mean?
A small, fleshy excrescence that is a normal part of an animal's anatomy.
Where does caruncle come from?
It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce caruncle

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “caruncle”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkɛɹˌʌŋ.kəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “caruncle”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “caruncle” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.