O*per"cu*la (?), n. pl. See Operculum.
O*per"cu*lar (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or like, an operculum.
O*per"cu*lar, n. (Anat.) The principal opercular bone or operculum of
fishes.
{ O*per"cu*late (?), O*per"cu*la`ted (?), } a. [L. operculatus, p. p.
of operculare to furnish with a lid, fr. operculum lid.] 1. (Bot.)
Closed by a lid or cover, as the capsules of the mosses.
2. (Zoöl.) Having an operculum, or an apparatus for protecting the
gills; -- said of shells and of fishes.
O*per`cu*lif"er*ous (?), a. [Operculum + -ferous.] (Zoöl.) Bearing an
operculum.
O*per"cu*li*form (?), a. [L. operculum a cover + -form: cf. F.
operculiforme.] Having the form of a lid or cover.
O*per`cu*lig`e*nous (?), a. [Operculum + -genous.] (Zoöl.) Producing an
operculum; -- said of the foot, or part of the foot, of certain
mollusks.
O*per"cu*lum (?), n.; pl. L. Opercula (#), E. Operculums (#). [L., a
cover or lid, fr. operire to cover.] 1. (Bot.) (a) The lid of a
pitcherform leaf. (b) The lid of the urnlike capsule of mosses.
2. (Anat.) (a) Any lidlike or operculiform process or part; as, the
opercula of a dental follicle. (b) The fold of integument, usually
supported by bony plates, which protects the gills of most fishes and
some amphibians; the gill cover; the gill lid. (c) The principal
opercular bone in the upper and posterior part of the gill cover.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) The lid closing the aperture of various species of
shells, as the common whelk. See Illust. of Gastropoda. (b) Any
lid-shaped structure closing the aperture of a tube or shell.
Op`er*et"ta (?), n. [It., dim. of opera.] (Mus.) A short, light,
musical drama.
Op"er*ose` (?). a. [L. operosus, fr. opera pains, labor, opus, operis,
work, labor.] Wrought with labor; requiring labor; hence, tedious;
wearisome. "Operose proceeding." Burke. "A very operose calculation."
De Quincey. -- Op"er*ose`ly, adv. -- Op"er*ose`ness, n.
Op`er*os"i*ty (?), n. [L. operositas.] Laboriousness. [R.] Bp. Hall.