/ ælˈviːələs; NAmE ; BrE also ˌælviˈəʊləs/ noun
( pl. al·veoli / ælˈviːəlaɪ; NAmE ; -liː; BrE also ˌælviˈəʊlaɪ; -liː/) ( anatomy ) one of the many small spaces in each lung where gases can pass into or out of the blood
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.: from Latin , small cavity , diminutive of alveus .