1. Plural of acetabulum; cup-shaped cavities in the hip bone that receive the head of the thighbone.
Usage: anatomy; medical
2. In zoology, cup-shaped or sucker-like structures on certain animals, such as the adhesive discs on tapeworms or the suckers on octopus arms.
Usage: zoology; biology

Examples

• The acetabula are deep sockets that provide stability to the hip joint.
• Damage to the acetabula can result in hip dysplasia.
• The surgeon examined the patient's acetabula during the orthopedic assessment.
• In tapeworms, the acetabula function as attachment organs.
• The octopus uses its acetabula to grip and manipulate objects.