alula

Thân thiện

A bird extends its wing, revealing the alula feathers.

Definition

Noun: 1. A small tuft of stiff feathers attached to the first digit (the "thumb") of a bird's wing. This structure functions like a leading-edge slat on an aircraft wing, helping to control airflow and prevent stalling during slow flight or landing. 2. A scalelike structure located between the base of the wing and the halter (a balancing organ) in a two-winged fly (dipteran).

Usage Examples

• The bird extended its alula to maintain lift as it descended toward the branch.
• In ornithology, the alula is a key adaptation for precise flight control.
• Under the microscope, the fly's alula was visible near the wing hinge.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used primarily in specialized scientific contexts, specifically ornithology (the study of birds) and entomology (the study of insects).
• It is often discussed in relation to aerodynamics and the biomechanics of flight.

Variants and Related Words

• Bastard Wing: A common, non-technical synonym for the alula in birds.
• Spurious Wing: Another less common synonym.
• Calypter (noun): The preferred entomological term for the alula-like structure in flies.

Synonyms

• Bastard wing
• Spurious wing
• Calypter (for insects)

Different Meanings

The word alula has two distinct but anatomically analogous meanings: 1. In Birds: Refers to the feathered structure on the first digit. 2. In Diptera (Flies): Refers to a membranous, scale-like lobe at the wing base.

Học thuật

Noun

1. tuft of small stiff feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing
2. scalelike structure between the base of the wing and the halter of a two-winged fly

Từ đồng nghĩa

• bastard wing
• spurious wing
• calypter