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.
[ L f. Gk stigma -atos a mark made by a pointed instrument, a brand, a dot: rel. to STICK(1) ]