Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
otolith. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
otolith, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
otolith in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
otolith you have here. The definition of the word
otolith will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
otolith, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From oto- + -lith, from Ancient Greek ὠτο- (ōto-), stem of οὖς (oûs, “ear”), and λίθος (líthos, “stone”).
Noun
otolith (plural otoliths)
- (zoology) A small particle, comprised mainly of calcium carbonate, found in the inner ear of vertebrates, being part of the balance sense.
- Synonyms: otoconium, otosteon, statoconium, statolith
Usage notes
Do not confuse otoliths (small stones in the inner ear as part of the vestibular sense) with ossicles (small bones in the middle ear as part of the auditory sense).
Hyponyms
Derived terms
Translations
small particle in the inner ear