Proboscis

Pronunciation: /prəˈbɑsɪs/

Definitions of proboscis

noun a long, flexible snout or trunk, especially of an elephant

Example Sentences

A1 The elephant uses its proboscis to pick up food.

A2 The butterfly uses its proboscis to drink nectar from flowers.

B1 The anteater's long proboscis helps it catch ants.

B2 The hummingbird's proboscis is perfectly adapted for extracting nectar from flowers.

C1 Scientists study the proboscis of mosquitoes to understand how they transmit diseases.

C2 The proboscis of certain insects has evolved to be specialized for different types of feeding.

Examples of proboscis in a Sentence

formal The elephant uses its proboscis to pick up food and drink water.

informal Did you see how the elephant used its long nose, or proboscis, to grab the fruit?

slang That elephant's proboscis is like a built-in straw!

figurative Her proboscis of curiosity led her to ask probing questions about the topic.

Grammatical Forms of proboscis

• plural: proboscises
• comparative: more proboscis
• superlative: most proboscis
• present tense: proboscis
• future tense: will proboscis
• perfect tense: has proboscised
• continuous tense: is proboscising
• singular: proboscis
• positive degree: proboscis
• infinitive: to proboscis
• gerund: proboscising
• participle: proboscised

Origin and Evolution of proboscis

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'proboscis' originated from the Latin word 'proboscis', which means 'elephant's trunk'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'proboscis' has come to refer to the elongated nose or snout of certain animals, such as elephants, tapirs, and anteaters. It is also used to describe any elongated or protruding nose-like organ on an animal or insect.