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Webster 1913 Edition


Osculant

Os′cu-lant

,
Adj.
[L.
osculans
,
-antis
, p. pr. of
osculari
to kiss. See
Osculate
.]
1.
Kissing; hence, meeting; clinging.
2.
(Zool.)
Adhering closely; embracing; – applied to certain creeping animals, as caterpillars.
3.
(Biol.)
Intermediate in character, or on the border, between two genera, groups, families, etc., of animals or plants, and partaking somewhat of the characters of each, thus forming a connecting link; interosculant;
as, the genera by which two families approximate are called
osculant
genera
.

Definition 2024


osculant

osculant

English

Adjective

osculant (not comparable)

  1. Kissing; hence, touching or meeting; clinging.
  2. (zoology) Adhering closely; applied to certain creeping animals, such as caterpillars.
  3. (biology) Intermediate between two genera, groups, families, etc., and having some of the characteristics of each; interosculant.
    The genera by which two families approximate are called osculant genera.