n.
Pronunciation: p ə - ' te-l ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -lae \ - ' te-( ˌ )l ē , - ˌ l ī \ or -las
Etymology: Latin, from diminutive of patina shallow dish
Date: 1693
: a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee and protects the front of the joint ― called also kneecap
– pa · tel · lar \ - ' te-l ə r \ adjective