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| ros·trum [ róstrəm ] (plural ros·trums or ros·tra [ róstrə ]) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. platform for public speaking: a platform or raised area where somebody stands to address an audience
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2. music conductor's platform: a platform on a stage or in front of an orchestra where the conductor stands
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3. ancient hist prow of Roman ship: the beak-shaped prow of an ancient Roman ship, especially a war galley
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4. biology beak-shaped part: a beak or beak-shaped part of an organism
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| [Mid-16th century. < Latin, "beak, ship's prow," in plural "platform" (because ships' prows decorated the orator's platform in the Roman forum) < rodere "gnaw"] |
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  ros·tral adjective |
| ros·tral·ly adverb |
| ros·trate adjective |
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