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.
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.