Defn: The principal opercular bone or operculum of fishes.
OPERCULATE; OPERCULATED O*per"cu*late, O*per"cu*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. operculatus, p.p. of operculare to furnish with a lid, fr. operculum lid.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Closed by a lid or cover, as the capsules of the mosses.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having an operculum, or an apparatus for protecting the gills; — said of shells and of fishes.
OPERCULIFEROUS
O*per`cu*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Operculum + -ferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Bearing an operculum.
OPERCULIFORM O*per"cu*li*form, a. Etym: [L. operculum a cover + -form: cf. F. operculiforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a lid or cover.