1. a long flexible snout of a mammal, especially an elephant’s trunk
2. the elongated mouthpart of an insect, used for feeding
Usage: biology
3. a person’s nose, especially when large or prominent
Usage: humorous; informal

Examples

• The elephant used its proboscis to pick up the peanut.
• A butterfly extends its proboscis to drink nectar from flowers.
• The mosquito’s proboscis pierced the skin to draw blood.
• He joked about his prominent proboscis in the family photo.
• The tapir’s flexible proboscis helps it grasp leaves and fruit.
• Moths have a coiled proboscis that unrolls when feeding.