n. (pl. stigmas or esp. in sense 4 stigmata)
1. a mark or sign of disgrace or discredit.
2 (foll. by of) a distinguishing mark or characteristic.
3 the part of a pistil that receives the pollen in pollination.
4 (in pl.) Eccl. (in Christian belief) marks corresponding to those left on Christ's body by the Crucifixion, said to have been impressed on the bodies of St Francis of Assisi and others.
5 a mark or spot on the skin or on a butterfly-wing.
6 Med. a visible sign or characteristic of a disease.
7 an insect's spiracle.
Etymology: L f. Gk stigma -atos a mark made by a pointed instrument, a brand, a dot: rel. to STICK(1)