1. Plural of insula; in ancient Rome, a large apartment building or tenement house, typically housing multiple families in separate units.
Usage: historical; Latin term used in English historical and archaeological contexts
2. In anatomy, plural of insula; regions of the cerebral cortex in the brain.
Usage: medical; technical

Examples

• Archaeologists excavated the remains of several insulae in Pompeii, revealing how ordinary Romans lived.
• The insulae of Rome were often crowded and poorly constructed, posing fire hazards.
• Wealthy Romans preferred single-family homes, while the poor lived in insulae.
• The brain's insulae play a role in processing emotions and sensory information.
• Damage to the insulae can affect a person's ability to perceive pain and temperature.