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operating lease
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operating microscope
operating risk
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operculum
o·per·cu·lum [ ō púrkyələm ] (plural o·per·cu·la [ ō púrkyələ ] or o·per·cu·lums)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. anatomy mucus plug in cervix: the plug of mucus that fills the opening of a woman's cervix while she is pregnant. It helps to prevent infection.
2. fish gill-covering flap: the flexible bony flap covering the gills of bony fishes
3. botany flap in mosses and fungi: a flap covering an aperture in the spore capsules of mosses and some fungi
4. zoology seal on mollusk's shell: a rounded plate that seals the mouth of the shell of some gastropod mollusks when the animal's body is inside
[Early 18th century. < Latin, "lid" < operire "to cover"]

o·per·cu·lar adjective
o·per·cu·lar·ly adverb
o·per·cu·late [ ō púrkyələt, ō púrkyə làyt ] adjective
o·per·cu·lat·ed [ ō púrkyə làytəd ] adjective
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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