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Cloaca - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A cloaca is a common cavity in some animals, such as birds and reptiles, that serves as the exit for digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. It functions like a multipurpose opening.

cloaca

/kloʊˈeɪkə/ /kləʊˈeɪkə/

Definition:

A cavity in some animals for excretory and reproductive functions.

Synonyms:

vent, sewer, duct, cavity

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

purity, cleanliness

Common Collocations:

bird cloaca, reptile cloaca, common cloaca, cloacal opening

Derivatives:

cloacal, cloacitis

Usage Tips:

Use "cloaca" in biological contexts to describe an anatomical feature in birds and reptiles.

Common Phrases:

cloacal kiss, common cloaca, cloacal exstrophy

Etymology:

From Latin "cloāca," meaning sewer or drain; related to cleansing or waste disposal.

Examples:

  • 1. The bird's cloaca serves multiple functions, including excretion and reproduction.
  • 2. Reptiles expel waste through their cloaca rather than separate openings.
  • 3. Scientists studied the frog's cloaca to understand its reproductive system.
  • 4. The term "cloaca" is derived from ancient Roman sewage systems.

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