alˈvēələs noun
( plural al·ve·o·li -ˌlī, -ˌlē)
Etymology: Latin, small hollow, tray, diminutive of alveus tub, cavity, hollow, from alvus belly, hollow; akin to Old Norse hvann jōli stalk of angelica, Greek aulos reed instrument like an oboe, Old Slavic ulica street, Armenian uł, ułi, path; basic meaning: tube, long cavity
1. : a small cavity or pit: as
a. : a socket for a tooth
b. : an air cell of the lungs
c. : an acinus of a compound gland
d. : a cell or compartment of a honeycomb
e. : any of the pits in the wall of the stomach into which the glands open
2. : the conical cavity in the anterior end of the guard of a belemnite
3. : teethridge
4. : any of the converging tooth-bearing ossicles about the mouth of a sea urchin